u 



FIEST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT, 



HISTORY 



First Regiment 



(MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY), 



FROM THE 25TH OF MAY. 1861, TO THE 25TH OF MAY, 1864; 



INCLUDING BRIEF REFERENCES TO 



The Operations of the Army of the Potomac. 



BY 



WARREN H. CUDWORTH, 



CHAPLAIN OF THE REGIMENT. 



A thousand glorious actions, that might claim 
Triumphant laurels and immortal lame, 
Confiised in crowds of glorious accions lie ; 
And troops of heroes undistinguished die. 




BOSTON: 

WALKER, FULLER, AND COMPANY. 

1866. 



E5I^ 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by 

WALKER, FULLER, AND COMPANY, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. 



^; 3; 




Pkess of Geo. C. Rand & Avery, 
3 CoRNHiLL, Boston. 



TO 

His Excellency 

John Albion Andrew, 

(Sobtrnor of tlje Commcmfofaltlr of piassac^usetts, 



CONSPICUOUS PATRIOTISM, UNDEVIATING LOYALTY, STEADFAST 
ADHERENCE TO THE RIGHTS OF MAN, 

AND 

INDEFATIGABLE EXERTIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL 

GOVERNMENT DURING THE ENTIRE WAR 

OF THE REBELLION, 

HAVE ENDEARED HIS NAME 

TO EVERY SOLDIER, SAILOR, AND PATRIOT IN THE LAND, 

Teens V.@Ly)8ii 

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY 
THE AUTHOR. 



PREFACE. 



The author of the following history volunteered his services as 
chaplain in the First Regiment from no love of warfare, hut 
simply because, with all his heart, he believed in ' ' Liberty and 
the Union," and wished to cast in his lot with those brave and 
patriotic men who were willing to fight for "Liberty and the 
Union." He went out with them from Camp Cameron to 
Washington in June, 1861 ; came back for a few days in July, 
1861, subsequent to the first battle of Bull Run; returned in 
one week ; and remained with them during the whole subse- 
quent period of their three-years' service, until they were mus- 
tered out on Boston Common, May 28, 1864. 

He was personally present at nearly all the scenes described 
in the following pages, and gives therefore the impressions of an 
eye-witness. 

It must be understood, however, that no single eye-witness 
can accurately observe nor completely embrace all the events 
transpmng in a great army, whether in battle or on the march ; 
so that, should any who were with other parts of the army, or in 
other portions of the field, miss the record of occurrences with 
which they are familial', they can account for the omission in 
this way. Being a chaplain, with an assigned place in rear 
of the column or line of battle, thither he always went, and 
there he always staid. 



8 PREFACE. 

His information concerning the battles in which the First 
Regiment fought so gallantly was derived partly from know- 
ing how the forces were disposed to meet the enemy, but 
mainly from reports brought in by the wounded and others 
as they came to the rear. The book has been written mostly 
from a sense of duty, and to supply members and friends 
of the First Regiment with a compact memorial of its glorious 
achievements. 

By them he is confident it will be received with lenient 
and generous consideration; and should others feel disposed 
to criticise, he begs to assure them that no attempt has been 
made to present a specimen of literary elegance, but only to 
transcribe an unadorned statement of actual facts. 

The company rolls at the end of the volume, in regard to 
dates, the spelling of names, time and cause of discharge, 
&c., have been copied as they appear on the books of Ad- 
jutant-General Schouler, at the State-House, Boston. No 
doubt, there are some typographical errors and some mis- 
takes in figures and places; but they have been made as 
accurate as the materials at hand would allow, and will 
prove acceptable, it is to be hoped, to those who are most 
interested in them. 

The writer is under obligations to several members of the 
reo-iment who have kindly allowed him the perusal of their 
diaries : he has also consulted official reports and other 
public documents, and faithfully followed the records of his 
own private memoranda. 

East Boston, Dec. 20, 1865. 




CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 
Organization. Camps Ellsworth, Cameron, and Banks . . 13 

CHAPTER II. 
Blackburn's Ford, and the First Bull Run .... 40 

CHAPTER III 
Fort Albany, Bladensburg, and Lower Maryland . . 68 

CHAPTER IV. 
Camp Hooker. Budd's Ferry 96 

CHAPTER V. 
Siege of Yorktown, Virginia 136 

CHAPTER VL 

Bat^tle of Williamsburg . . . . . . . .161 

CHAPTER riL 
Poplar Hill, White-Oak Swamp, and Fair Oaks . . .182 



10 CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VI 11. 

Savage's Station, Glendale, and Malvern Hill, First and 

Second 214 

CHAPTER IX. 
Harrison's Landing and Warrenton Junction . . .238 

CHAPTER X. 
Bristow Station, Second Bull Run, and Chantilly . . 261 

CHAPTER XL 

Camps at Alexandria Semenary, Fairfax Court House, and 
Fairfax Station .285 

CHAPTER XII. 
Battle of Fredericksburg 309 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Camp near Falmouth » 331 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Battle of Chance llorsville ....... 352 

CHAPTER XV. 
Battle of Gettysburg .377 

CHAPTER XVI. 
Battle of Wapping Heights . . . . . .* 405 

CHAPTER XV n. 
Biker's Island. New- York Harbor .420 



CONTENTS. 11 

CHAPTER XVIII. 
Kelly's Ford, Locust Grove, and Brandy Station . . .434 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court House 453 

CHAPTER XX. 
Reception at Home. The Final Struggle . . . .477 





THE 



FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT, 



CHAPTER I. 



To arms, to arms ! whoever loves 
The land that gave him birth. 

A score of millions hear the cry, 

And herald it abroad : 
To arms they fly, to do or die 

For liberty and God. 

Old Massachusetts caught the word; 

And, as a mighty man. 
She buckled on the trusty sword, 

And boldly led the van." 

E. P. Dyer. 



ORGANIZATION. 



CAMPS ELLSWORTH, CAMERON, AND 
BANKS. 



THE First Regiment Massachusetts Infantry was 
organized immediately after the assault upon Fort 
Sumter, Charleston Harbor, on the morning of April 
12, 1861. 

This, more than any other act committed in the in- 
terest of secession, aroused Union men to an apprecia- 
tion of the crisis that was upon them. The rebels 
made it apparent that they were thoroughly in earnest, 
2 la 



14 THE FIE ST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

and resolved upon separation. The destruction of the 
National GoYernment, which they had been unable to 
accomplish by nullification, by ruinous compromises, 
and Congressional brow-beating,- — all of which Union 
men had taken patiently, — they were now determined 
to effect by force of arms. This was not to be taken 
patiently. Words, threats, denunciations, even un- 
just measures and bad laws, might have been quietly 
received, and endured, perhaps, for years : but cannon- 
balls required immediate and decided answer; and 
they got it. All over the North, and, to some extent, 
even from the South, patriotism poured forth its armed 
defenders of the national life. They gathered in cities, 
towns, and villages, animated instinctively by a similar 
spirit, overflowing everywhere with one and the same 
enthusiasm. Halls, commons, highways, even churches, 
were thronged with eager and excited crowds, all ready 
for action. Flag-staffs went up in every direction; the 
stars and stripes fluttered on every breeze ; red, white, 
and blue rosettes, ribbons, and decorations were worn 
by all classes ; while military bands, or the simple fife 
and drum, followed by squads, companies, or battalions 
of armed men, marching, drilling, and preparing for 
the conflict, told plainly enough that the Federal Union 
was not to be given up without a prolonged and deter- 
mined struggle. 

The First Massachusetts Infantry was the first regiment 
to leave the State for three years' service in the national 
cause; and, indeed, is said to have been the first three- 
years' regiment in the service of the United States. 
It was composed mainly of the old First Regiment of 
Massachusetts militia, which received its name about 
the year 1858, when the original First was disbanded. 




THE SIXTH AlA??ArHrSF,TT<5 REGTArF.XT T\ PAT.TTMORE, APRIL IP. IRf^l. 



OBGANIZATIOX. 15 

and the Second allowed to assume its name. Directly 
after the assault upon Fort Sumter, its services were 
offered to his excellency Gov. Andrew by Col. Rob- 
ert Cowdin, then in command, to proceed at once to 
the defence of the capital. But, as it was deemed ad- 
visable to retain some of our soldiers in Boston for a 
time, other regiments from the country were sent, in- 
cluding the Sixth, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth, 
whose term of service was to be for three months only. 
Upon the 8th of May, orders were issued from the War 
Department, calling for volunteers for three years. 
To this the First Regiment immediately and unani- 
mously responded, and, after various unavoidable de- 
lays, were mustered and sworn into the service of the 
United States as follows : viz., Companies A, B, G, 
and H, May 23 ; Companies D, F, K, and I, May 
24 ; Company E, May 25 ; and Company C, May 27. 
The field and staff officers were mustered May 27. 

The foljowing were the home names and residences 
of the various companies : — 

Company A, made up of two other companies. 
Brookline. 

Company B, Union Guards. East Boston. 

Company C, North End, True Blues. Boston. 

Company D, Roxbury City Guards. Roxbury. 

Company E, Pulaski Guards. South Boston. 

Company F, National Guards. Boston. 

Company G, Independent Boston Fusileers. Bos- 
ton. 

Company H, Chelsea Volunteers. Chelsea. 

Company I, Schouler Guards. Boston. 

Company K, Chadwick Light Infantry. Roxbury. 

Companies B, D, E, F, and G were original com- 



16 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS HEGIMEyT. 

panies in the First Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer 
Mihtia. The others were added to make up the com- 
plement of ten companies. 

From the 25th of May to the 1st of June, the head- 
quarters of the regiment were at Faneuil Hall, Boston. 
The time of the men was occupied in drilling, reading, 
writing, getting ready, and amusing themselves in such 
ways as were not forbidden by the laws of war. 

As the centre of a populous city was a very unde- 
sirable i^lace for so large a body of men, however; and 
as there was no opportunity in or near Faneuil Hall for 
battalion and regimental drills, which it was necessary 
to have as speedily as possible, — on the first day of 
June, the regiment marclied out to Cambridge, and took 
possession of an old ice-house, on the borders of Fresh 
Pond, which had been procured by the State authori- 
ties, and partially fitted up for barracks; and established 
their first camp. It was named Camp Ellsworth, in 
honor of the gallant colonel of the New-Yor]^ Firemen 
Zouaves, whose murder by the secessionist Jackson, at 
the Marshall House, Alexandria, Ya., on the morning 
of May 24, was still fresh in the public mind. 

Here military discipline was at once enforced, a reg- 
ular system of guard duty established, and, when the 
weather would permit, daily drilling and dress-parades 
introduced. The members of the regiment, though 
poorly accommodated, reconciled themselves to their 
new quarters as speedily as possible ; and, among the 
majority, there was manifested a commendable disposi- 
tion to make the best of every thing at once. There 
were some items connected with the commissary de- 
partment, and other arrangements for personal conve- 
nience about the barracks, which called forth strong 



CAMP CAMERON. 17 

expressions of disapprobation, and threatened, at one 
time, serious consequences ; but as these were speedily 
attended to, and remedied so far as possible, those who 
had felt aggrieved were conciliated. 

It was demonstrated by the rapidly increasing sick- 
list, and the universal prevalence of colds and other 
complaints, however, that the old ice-house was not a 
suitable structure for the temporary home of a thou- 
sand men ; and, upon representations being made to this 
effect to the proper authorities, they at once set about 
the erection of better buildings on a well-selected lot 
of ground in North Cambridge, about five miles from 
Boston. 

On tlie 13th of June, a sufficient number of barracks 
having been completed to accommodate the regiment, 
the companies marched over and took possession, find- 
ing them in every respect as comfortable as could 
reasonably be expected. Here the land was high, the 
water good, the air dry and bracing ; and a broad pa- 
rade-ground between the road and the officers' quarters 
offered ample space for military evolutions. Although 
there was considerable incredulity as to the regiment's 
ever being called into active service against the enemy, 
the men entered into their daily marches, parades, and 
drills with the utmost zest, and seemed determined to 
become familiar with the principles of good soldiership, 
whether they were ever required to carry them into 
practice or not. The new encampment had been named 
Camp Cameron, in honor of the first Secretary of War, 
who was then a great favorite throughout the loyal 
portions of the country ; and nearly all day it was 
thronged with visitors personally acquainted or con- 
nected with members of the regiment, or attracted by 

2* 



18 THE FIBST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

the novelty of a real military camp, and a thousand 
men whose swords^ g^ns, and accoutrements had not 
been assumed for a few days' show only, but for three 
years of cruel and deadly warfare. 

The companies were not long permitted to enjoy the 
comforts of their new barracks at Camp Cameron ; for, 
on the 14th of June, orders were received from Wash- 
ington to have every thing in readiness to leave the 
next day. This was just what the majority ardently 
desired, and many had not believed in ; and prepara- 
tions to comply with the order were made with the 
utmost readiness and alacrity. It would astonish the 
veterans of 1864-65 to see how much these inexperi- 
euced volunteers packed into their knapsacks, haver- 
sacks, and pockets ; and how many enormous trunks, 
furnished with all the appliances required by an unlim- 
ited sojourn in foreign countries, were piled into the 
baggage-car for the benefit of the officers. 

At half-past four on the loth, Camp Cameron was 
left behind, and the line of march taken up for Boston 
Common. The roads were dusty ; the thermometer 
between 70° and 80°; and the men compelled, on 
account of the crowded condition of their knapsacks 
and the raggedness of portions of their clothing, to 
wear thick winter overcoats. It was a hot march ; 
and words hot and strong, not a few, have been said and 
written about it: but it came to an end, and about 
seven o'clock the regiment was formed on Boston Com- 
mon. Here an attempt was made to keep a portion of 
the parade-ground clear while the regiment made a 
detour around it, and went througli a final dress- 
parade before leaving the State ; but it was found to 
be utterly impossible. Thousands of fathers, mothers, 



OFF FOR WASHINGTON. 19 

wives, children, brothers, sisters, sweethearts, and 
friends, had been waiting two hours to catch the 
last glimpse of some loved soldier's form, and speak 
the last word which could be heard from them for 
months or years, perhaps forever ; and they would not 
be restrained. Indeed, it is strongly to be suspected 
that the police were not very efficient in their attempts 
to restrahi them. Be that as it may, the line swayed 
to and fro a few moments, and then, over the rope, in 
every direction, the earnest and excited mass of human- 
ity plunged ; and, much more speedily than it takes to 
write it, officers, soldiers, and civilians were mixed up 
in one immense throng of people, weeping, laughing, 
embracing, clinging to one another, and presenting 
here and there scenes so affecting, that the recollection 
of them is as fresh and vivid to-day as on the evening 
when they transpired. But all too soon this was 
brought to a conclusion; and the troops were re-formed, 
and marched to the train of cars in waiting at the 
depot of the Boston and Providence Railroad. Here 
a platform was improvised from a pile of railway 
sleepers ; and, silence having been secured in the vicin- 
ity. Alderman Pray, in l^ehalf of a committee of the 
city of Boston, stepped forward, and presented to tlie 
regiment a handsome national banner. Appropriate 
speeches were made by Mr. Pray, by his honor Mayor 
Wightman, and by Col. Cowdin in response ; and, after 
repeated rounds of cheers, the soldiers entered the cars, 
and, at nine o'clock in the evening, the train started. 

There were seventeen passenger and four baggage 
cars, drawn by two powerful locomotives, some of the 
cars being decorated with flags and streamers ; and, at 
every station along the road, crowds of people assem- 



20 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

bled, who cheered the soldiers, — women waving their 
handkerchiefs, and little children shouting and jump- 
ing about in a perfect frenzy of excitement. 

At Providence, R. I., a detachment of the Marine 
Artillery welcomed the troops with a national salute ; 
while at least two thousand persons crowded around 
the cars, cheering, wishing the soldiers God speed, 
denouncing secessionists, predicting the speedy down- 
fall of the Rebellion, treating the troops to fruit, cakes, 
et ccBtera, and really making them feel that they were 
going on a pleasure excursion, which would soon be 
over, rather than to engage in the most fearful and 
bloody of human transactions, which might be pro- 
longed for years. 

It was not until three o'clock, Sunday morning, the 
16th, that the train arrived at Groton, Conn., where 
the cars were to be exchanged for the elegant and com- 
modious steamer " Commonwealth." Here Fort Trum- 
bidl, on the opposite side of the river, belched forth a 
thundering welcome from its heavy iron guns ; while 
men, horses, wagons, and baggage were transferred as 
expeditiously as possible from the cars to the vessel. 

While at Groton, in the midst of considerable con- 
fusion arising from the necessity of switching the train 
from one track to another, Daniel B. Miller, a young 
man of Company D, was jolted from his seat on one of 
the wagons, and, before it was discovered that he had 
fallen, twenty-four sets of wheels had passed over both 
his legs just above the knees. He was immediately 
removed to a house close by the depot, a physician 
summoned, and every thing done to alleviate his suffer- 
ings and prolong his life. But it was all without avail. 



ARRIVAL AT JERSEY CITY. 21 

He lingered along, in an insensible condition, for about 
three hours, and then breathed his last. 

Previous to this, a valuable horse had gotten loose 
from his fastenings, and leaped out of the car-door, 
breaking his neck ; but, with these exceptions, no other 
accidents occurred to mar tlie festive character of the 
trip from Boston to New York. 

An amusing incident, indeed, took place while the 
men were filing across the steamer's forward gangway 
into the spacious cabin and grand saloon below, which 
caused a momentary sensation of profound concern ; 

for private T A , of Company A, loaded with 

knapsack, haversack, overcoat, gun, and accoutrements, 
went suddenly overboard, and all felt sure he would 
sink' like a stone. He manifested a decidedly contrary 
inclination, however, and, being a good swimmer, kept 
himself afloat until ropes were thrown within his reach, 
and he was extricated from jeopardy ; when the fears 
of his comrades were exchanged for laughter and jokes 
at his forlorn and dripping condition, all of which he 
took with the utmost good nature, inasmuch as it is 
vastly better to be the living butt of a little friendly 
ridicule than the dead recipient of the largest amount 
of funereal eulogium. 

The steamer " Commonwealth " reached the wharf 
in Jersey City at quarter before two, p. m. She was 
gayly decorated with flags from stem to stern, and cov- 
ered in every available standing-spot with soldiers. 
Thousands of people had assembled upon the wharf to 
receive them ; and, as the boat swung alongside, they 
broke into repeated and enthusiastic cheers, which 
were heartily responded to from on board. 

After the troops disembarked, they were marched 



22 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

into the New- Jersey Railroad Depot, where tables had 
been spread with an abundant supply of creature com- 
forts, and called upon to help themselves. This had 
been provided by an association of gentlemen resident 
in New York, called " Sons of Massachusetts/' who 
also took the officers in charge, and furnished them 
with a bountiful entertainment at a hotel near by. A 
speech of welcome w^as made by Richard Warren, Esq., 
president of the association, just as the steamer ar- 
rived ; to which Col. Cowdin fitly responded in behalf 
of his command. It had been hoped that sufficient 
time would be allowed to enable the regiment to 
land in New- York City, and march through a portion 
of Broad^vay ; but various considerations combined to 
render it inexpedient ; and after tarrying a few hours 
at the depot, until horses, wagons, and baggage had 
been all transferred from the boat to the cars, the train 
started for Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington. 

A multitude of people, comprising thousands of all 
classes, surrounded the depot, while others crowded 
the sidew^alks, covered the door-steps, and filled all the 
windows for miles along the route ; and they seemed 
never to tire of waving hats, handkerchiefs, and flags, 
cheering the troops at the top of their lungs, and evin- 
cing everywhere tlie most rapturous joy at their appear- 
ance. At every stage of our progress, it became more 
and more evident that this was the people's war, and 
that the people were heart and soul committed to its 
prosecution and conclusion in favor of " Union and 
Liberty." 

This could not have other than a cheering effect 
upon the soldiers, and served greatly to alleviate the 
depression which home-sickness would irresistibly pro- 



• ARBIVAL AT PHILADELPHIA. 23 

ducc in some natures. Between Jersey City and Phil- 
adelphia, as the train was proceeding about twelve 
miles an hour, one of the men, in attempting to look 
out from the platform, — for many were allowed to 
ride on the platform, and even on top of the cars, — 
lost his footing, and disappeared. It was supposed that 
he must have been instantly killed, and the train was 
stopped ; and the surgeon, with three assistants, went 
back to get, if possible, liis remains. To the relief 
of everybody, it was found that he had only been 
somewhat stunned, but was otherwise uninjured. It 
seems, that, instead of falling under, he fell away from, 
the cars ; and, turning several somersets with extraordi- 
nary rapidity down the steep bank, he finally landed 
at the bottom in a soft bed of yellow mud. 

The city of Philadelphia was reached about day- 
light the next morning. Owing to the crowded and 
deeply laden condition of the ferry-boats in going 
across the Delaware River from Camden, both of them 
got fast stuck in the mud. After some delay, and con- 
siderable exertion, they reached the other side ; and the 
men were marched into the Cooper-Shop and Union- 
Refreshment Saloons, whose founders, supporters, and 
attendants deserve the gratitude of the entire country 
for the voluntary service they have rendered through- 
out the war in feeding the hungry, providing for the 
destitute, and ministering to the sick and wounded, 
who have thronged their establishment during all 
hours of the day and night, every day in the week, 
every week and month in the year.* In Philadelphia, 

* Twelve hundred thousand volunteers were entertained, free of cost, at 
these saloons, during the war. At mid-night, or mid-day, cold or hot, cloudy 
or clear, no matter when a regiment might amve, every man was sure of. 



24 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

the majority of the people were unmistakably in sym- 
pathy with the Union cause, but not so demonstrative 
of loyalty as farther North. Perhaps they had less 
faith in the final triumph of the Union arms ; more 
fear that they might some time be called to account for 
giving aid and comfort to Union soldiers. 

We were now rapidly approaching the most impor- 
tant portion of our route to Washington. Since the 
19th of April, when the Sixth Regiment was assaulted, 
no Massachusetts soldiers had marched through Balti- 
more. Indeed, it had been declared that none ever 
should march through again ; and to us had been com- 
mitted the duty of ascertaining whether this was merely 
an idle boast, or a threat that would result in blood- 
shed. 

About twenty miles this side of the city, ten thousand 
ball-cartridges were distributed among the troops, every 
gun was loaded and capped, revolvers and swords ex- 
amined, and every man prepared for whatever emer- 
gency might appear. Cheering ceased long before we 
reached the suburbs of Baltimore, although here and 
there might be seen a flag or a handkerchief waved by 
some one more loyal or fearless than the rest. When 
the cars arrived, and the men left them, they were 
immediately surrounded by a motley assemblage of 
citizens, laborers, jDolicemen, boys, and roughs, who 
were kept at a proper distance until the companies 
were formed. The order '' Forward ! " was then given 
by Col. Cowdin, on foot, and at the head of the 
regiment ; and the march began. It was an anxious 
moment. Every eye was watchful, every footstep 

a kind word and a good meal. The projectors, supporters, and attendants 
of these model establishments certainly deserve a monument. 



ARRIVAL AT WASHINGTON. 25 

firm, every man on the alert. But during tlie march 
of nearly, if not quite, two miles, with thousands crowd- 
ing around, shop -doors and house - windows filled, 
balconies, steps, and sidewalks covered with people, 
not a hiss, not a groan, was heard, not a secession flag 
or motto appeared, not a single act of open hostility was 
committed ; and on every hand it was plainly apparent 
that the enemies of the country were awed and cowed, 
if not converted. 

And so, without the loss of a man or the firing of a 
gun, Massachusetts soldiers again went through Balti- 
more. It was indeed a quiet and triumphant march, 
and, when compared with that of the Sixth Regiment, 
shows how much Union sentiment had increased 
aniong the citizens, or, at any rate, how thoroughly 
traitors had become intimidated, since April 19. 
After leaving Baltimore, some of the soldiers who 
occupied the tops of the cars amused themselves in 
discharging their muskets by the roadside, to tlue 
serious detriment of two or three Maryland pigs sup- 
posed to belong to rebels. Upon reaching tlie Relay 
House and Annapolis Junction, where the Massachusetts 
Sixth and Eighth were quartered with Cook's Massachu- 
setts Battery, there was quite an animated scene of recog- 
nition and hand-shaking between the troops old and new : 
but, without further incident worthy of mention, the 
train drove rapidly on ; and the men arrived at Washing- 
ton by seven o'clock in the evening, dusty and weary 
with their long and tedious ride, but in readiness for any 
service which might be required of them. Here they 
found that they had not been expected until a couple of 
hours later, and, accordingly, that no preparations had 
been made to receive them. But they were formed iu_ 



26 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

column by company, marched up Pennsylvania Avenue 
to Seventh Street ; and, after considerable delay, eight 
companies were provided with accommodations in 
Woodworth's building on the avenue, a large unoccu- 
pied store or warehouse, and two quartered in a half- 
furnished structure on Sixth Street, while the officers 
were left to take care of themselves as best they could 
under the circumstances. No rations had been pro- 
vided by Government for the men ; and those who 
chanced to be moneyless, or without a companion suf- 
ficiently friendly to be willing to share his morsel with 
a brother-soldier, turned in for the night without any 
supper. 

This was rather a cheerless reception, and it had a 
dispiriting effect ; but, in the morning, matters began to 
wear a different aspect. By dint of great exertion, a 
couple of rusty caldrons were obtained from a neigh- 
l)oring hardware store, in which coffee was speedily 
made for the whole regiment. Several boxes of red 
herring were procured, with a few soda-crackers, and 
plenty of old, musty, Avormy, and buggy ship-bread ; 
and, having partaken of these, the men scattered, 
singly and in squads, in various directions, to inspect 
the public buildings of the national capital, and see 
for themselves what sort of a place the city of mag- 
nificent distances miglit be. 

Washington at that day was full of secessionists ; 
some of them open and bitter in their denunciation of 
the Government, others watching in secret for a 
favorable opportunity when tliey might throw off all 
disguises, and co-operate witli the enemies of the Union. 

There was hardly a department of public affairs in 
which there were not known disloyal officials, who, at 



TREASON IN WASHINGTON. 27 

the same time they were drawing their salaries, were 
doing all in their power to overturn the authority they 
had sworn to uphold. Among such men, and the tools 
they could make subservient to their treasonable pur- 
poses, no Union man was safe, especially at night ; and 
the soldiers, in consequence, uniformly went armed. 

As they were allowed the freedom of the city, during 
the 18th, they visited the Navy Yard, Armory, Smith- 
sonian Institution, Patent Office, White House, and 
Post Office, which were then completed, and the 
Capitol and Treasury Building, which had not been 
finished ; and at night the feeling seemed to be very 
general among them, that, were it not for its public 
buildings, Washington would be far from an attractive 
or agreeable place of residence. 

It was then a most noticeable fact to all New-Eng- 
landers, that in proportion to the distance travelled 
southward was the ratio of increase in discomforts and 
inconveniences to the traveller, in poor living and ex- 
orbitant charges at hotels and private boarding-houses, 
and in complete indifference to human comfort, and 
disregard of human life and happiness. The general 
impression prevailed, that the existing state of things 
was not long to last, that the rebels would inevitably win 
their independence, and that Washington would then 
become a Southern city. Jeff. Davis and his cabinet 
seemed to know just as well what was transpiring at 
the White House, what were the plans of Union gen- 
erals, and what were the numbers and dispositions of 
the national forces, as they knew the condition of their 
own affairs ; and, for many months after the war broke 
out, neither our army nor navy made any important 



28 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

movement for which they did not find the enemy just 
as well prepared as ourselves. 

All these things caused Washington to be the centre 
of a great deal of interest, and with its throngs of visit- 
ors, capitalists, contractors, politicians, office-seekers, 
inventors, and adventurers, the abode of perpetual 
excitement. 

On Wednesday, the 19th of June, the line of march 
was again resumed, and the regiment went into camp 
beyond Oeorgetown, on the Potomac, about two miles 
below Chain Bridge. On the way, they marched in 
review before President Lincoln, who was then almost 
an unknown and untried man, but the object of uni- 
versal curiosity and speculation. He stood just before 
the White-House entrance, wearing an affable and 
dignified expression upon his countenance, while the 
column, heavily equipped, and accompanied with all its 
wagons, ambulances, horses &c., went past; and ex- 
pressed great satisfaction with the appearance of the 
troops to Gen. Morse, of Massachusetts, who was stand- 
ing at his side. No sooner had the regiment got by than 
there was a rush from the crowd towards the President. 
Everybody had the American mania for shaking hands ; 
and, had not the rearguard of troops interfered, he 
would have been kept standing in the broiling sun 
for hours. 

As it was, he was escorted into his residence, and 
received quite a delegation of New-England men, who 
made an impromptu call upon him, with assurances 
of sympathy and co-operation in the arduous task 
he had been called upon to undertake. He received 
all courteously, and in course of his remarks, alluding 
to the surprising promptness with which the Old Bay 



CAMP BANKS. 29 

State responded to the first call, and the commendable 
valor displayed by her troops when they received and 
returned the first infantry fire in the war, said, "It is 
evident that the Massachusetts people have got rile//; 
and, from what we have just witnessed, they appear to 
be coming down here to settle.''^ This bon-mot pro- 
duced considerable merriment as it went round from 
mouth to mouth, during which the President begged 
to be excused, saying he was busy preparing for the 
approaching session of Congress, and retired. 

The march fi-om Washington through Georgetown 
was extremely trying, as the mercury stood at 90°, 
and the roads were rough and dusty. Several men 
were sun-struck ; but immediate attention, and the 
prompt application of proper remedies, prevented any 
fatal results. In honor of Major -Gen. Nathaniel P. 
Banks, the new camp -ground was named Camp 
Banks. 

It seemed to have been formerly a farm, as part of 
it was overshadowed by fruit-trees ; while, of the rest, 
a portion had been ploughed, and a portion given up 
to pasturage. Its greatest lack was a scanty supply of 
poor water, part of which flowed through the centre 
of the camp from a half-finished reservoir belonging to 
the Washington Aqueduct Company, and part gushed 
out of a break in the aqueduct above the camp. As 
a thousand men and over were obliged to wash them- 
selves and their cooking utensils in this water daily, 
its condition any time after daylight until dark can 
easily be imagined. Several times, exploring parties 
were sent throughout the neighborhood to ascertain 
if a more eligible site for a camp could not be dis- 

3* 



30 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

covered ; but they met with such indifferent success in 
their endeavors, that no change was ordered. 

Being, as it were, upon hostile soil, the regiment 
was at once put under strictly military discipline. 
Each company received four bell tents for the men, 
and one wall tent for the officers. A guard-house was 
selected, and a guard established for day and night. 
Cook-houses, ovens, stables, and other appurtenances, 
sprang up as fast as materials could be obtained for 
their construction ; and great ingenuity was manifested 
in the invention of such comfort-producing appliances 
as there was room in the tents to accommodate. Close 
by, and partly included in the precincts of the camp, 
were sundry shanties occupied by Irish laborers and 
their families, the men being employed to work on the 
reservoir and redoubts ; and with these the troops car- 
ried on quite a brisk trade in pigs, poultry, milk, and 
other creature-comforts not found on the ration-list of 
the army rules and regulations. Hucksters of all 
sorts, under certain sumptuary restrictions, were also 
allowed to peddle their wares ; so that, when the com- 
missary salt-junk, whether beef or pork, was unusually 
tough or aged, and the hard-tack especially averse to 
mastication, the hungry patriots might solace tliem- 
selves with attenuated pies or plethoric molasses-cakes 
meantime. 

When the weather was pleasant, every man found 
plenty to do. At five o'clock in the morning, the 
reveille was beaten, to which members of companies 
•responded by forming in their regular streets, and an- 
swering to their names, as they were called by the 
orderly-sergeant ; at six took place a company drill ; 
at seven, breakfast was served ; at half-past eight, guard- 



DAILY LIFE IN CAMP. 31 

mounting, including the relief of the old guard, and 
the posting of the new ; afterwards, battalion-drills, 
target-practice, or inspection ; at twelve, dinner, tech- 
nically called " roast beef," but humorously known 
among the soldiers as ^' salt horse ; " after dinner, 
rest until four o'clock, when the " call to the color" 
was beaten, followed usually by the "assembly," and 
another drill lasting nearly until dress-parade ; dress- 
parade at six, with supper immediately after ; roll-call 
at half-past nine ; tattoo at quarter before ten, when 
all lights must be extinguished throughout the camp, 
except in the colonel's quarters and guard-house. In 
course of a campaign, circumstances, of course, caused 
a great variation in this programme ; but the soldier's 
daily life in camp was made up more or less of such 
duties and experiences as are contained in the above 
list. 

On Sunday, there was a religious service for such as 
chose to attend, though sometimes attendance was com- 
pulsory ; and, every evening in the week, a meeting 
for conference and prayer. 

Large numbers of visitors resorted to Camp Banks, 
and among them would occasionally appear a down- 
right secessionist. One was arrested on suspicion of 
being a spy ; but, as nothing definite could be proved 
against him, he was afterwards released. Two or three 
night-alarms occurred, which called out the men hastily, 
in full force, expecting to be summoned to repel an 
attack from the enemy. On one occasion, a gun was 
discharged near the sentinel on guard at the reservoir ; 
and he immediately fired at what he supposed was the 
would-be assailant, calling out the entire guard, and 
rousing every man in camp : but it turned out to be 



32 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

only a drunken Irishman with an old flint-lock mus- 
ket, who could give no coherent account of himself, 
and was therefore confined in the guard-house until he 
became sober, and then dismissed with a warning. 

A garrison flag having been obtained from the Gov- 
ernment, it was raised on a pole cut on the other side 
of the Potomac, and brought across ; and- patriotic 
speeches were made by several officers, while the band 
played the " Star-spangled Banner " and other appro- 
priate selections. 

One afternoon, during the passage of one of our regi- 
mental wagons through Georgetown to Washington, a 
fire broke out in the former place ; which being observed 
by two members of the regiment, riding in the wagon, 
who were old Boston firemen, the ruling passion would 
have sway ; and they dashed into the building, hose 
pipe in hand, and succeeded in subduing the flames. 

The Fourth of July was not allowed to pass without 
patriotic recognition. It vf as a lovely day. The boom- 
ing of guns and the sound of martial music opened 
the celebration. The forenoon was spent in parades 
and target-shooting. In the afternoon, Hon. T. D. Eliot, 
member of Congress from Massachusetts, addressed 
the men, drawn up in a hollow square, in a most happy 
manner ; after which followed a grand dress-parade ; 
and the day closed with the kindling of huge bonfires 
on all the hills around, on both sides of the river. 
The effect was so inspiring, that cheer after cheer rose 
from the troops until a late hour at night. 

Boston citizens resident in California having con- 
tributed to present the regiment a handsome silk ban- 
ner, on the Gth of July it was brought out to camp, 
and formally given into Col. Cowdin's charge by Sena- 



BURIAL OF A COMRADE. 33 

tor McDoiigal of that distant State. Speeches were 
made by bearer, recipient, Col. Ellis, Col. Wells, and 
others ; and the exercises closed with the usual dress- 
parade. 

On the morning of July 10 occurred the first 
death in the regiment. It was that of Charles Grant, 
of Company C. His comrades were much attached to 
him, and resolved to send his body home. It was ne- 
cessary previously that he should be placed in a tomb, 
in the Georgetown cemetery ; and the escort marched 
to this, four miles distant, in the midst of a furious 
thunder-storm, not arriving until it was pitch dark. 

The soldiers, preceded by the band with muffled 
drums, filed slowly along the avenues of the cemetery 
by torchlight, their weapons glittering when the light 
glanced upon them ; white tombstones starting up into 
ghastly prominence as they marched by, and the darker 
ones seeming to slink away into the shadow as if to 
avoid observation, while terrific peals of thunder echoed 
through the woods, and temporarily drowned every 
other sound. Entering the Gothic chapel, the bier, with 
its silent burden, was placed before the altar ; and as 
the men uncovered, grim and dripping, their muskets 
by their sides, and a few flickering candles throwing a 
weird, fantastic aspect over every thing, the solemn 
sentences of the burial-service, sounding through the 
building, made the whole scene more like a revival of 
some spectacle from the middle ages than an ordinary 
funeral occasion of our own day. 

The inhabitants of Georgetown were greatly sur- 
prised that so much notice should be taken of a pri- 
vate, and supposed that we were burying a general at 
least. 



34 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Great attention was paid to cleanliness at Camp 
Banks. The men were allowed to bathe often in the 
canal close by the camp ; and, though some of them 
averred tliat the dirty water soiled more than it 
cleansed, this could hardly have been the case. 

Several severe thunder-storms visited the place, dur- 
ing one of which the tents, cook-houses, and shanties 
were completely inundated, and a large number of 
cooking and other utensils floated off. The soldiers 
were all turned out to recover their property, re-ditch 
their quarters, and re-pitch some of the tents which had 
fallen ; and for a time they were obliged to move about 
in a very lively and amusing manner. 

At G-reat Falls, on the Potomac, was an important 
portion of tlie Washington Aqueduct, in the form, of a 
huge granite arch, said to be the largest and most costly 
in the country. As it was feared that the rebels might 
tamper with or destroy tliis, the whole vicinity was 
kept under careful surveillance ; and on Monday, July 
the 8th, two companies of the First Regiment (I and 
K), under command of Major Chandler, were de- 
spatched to relieve some troops who had been sent up 
from the District of Columbia. They made the march 
in about eight hours, and located their camp upon the 
banks of the canal, naming it Camp Richardson, in 
honor of Col. I. B. Richardson, of the Second Michigan 
Infantry, who was then senior colonel of tlie brigade. 

The two companies found constant occupation in 
patrolling the canal, and watching the Virginia side of 
the Potomac. Rebels had been seen there, and several 
shots were exchanged. On one occasion, a brisk en- 
gagement was anticipated, and our men, under cover 
of a thicket, fired several volleys into the w^oods said 



THi: ADVANCE TOWARDS FAIRFAX. 35 

to contaiD the enemy ; but, as the woods failed to 
respond, the alarm died away, and the men returned 
to their tents. It was reported at one time that three 
of the rebel pickets had been shot ; but the story was 
not generally credited. If the enemy had proposed to 
cross the river, they were prevented ; and the great arch 
of the aqueduct was not in any way interfered with. 

As the army under Gen. Irwin McDowell was then 
about to move upon the enemy, at Fairfax Court House, 
Companies I and K were ordered to rejoin their com- 
mand ; and during the night of Sunday, July 14, they 
came back to Camp Banks, arriving before dayhght on 
the 15th. 

Tuesday, July 16, orders were issued to have every 
thing in readiness for an advance ; and at three o'clock, 
P.M., the First Massachusetts, in company with the 
Second and Third Michigan and the Twelfth New- 
York Regiments, constituting Col. Richardson's brig- 
ade, crossed into Virginia over Chain Bridge, and 
commenced the march towards Vienna, the scene of 
Gen. Robert C. Schenck's discreditable surprise. 

As this was their first foray upon the famous " sa- 
cred soil," the troops were very eager to converse with 
all the people in the vicinity of whose habitations the 
column marched ; and in the majority of cases, to their 
great surprise, they professed to be thoroughly loyal to 
the Union. One old lady was especially enthusiastic 
in her exclamations of delight as the soldiers marched 
by. Two flags bearing the stars and strip 3s waved in 
front of her house ; and she stood in close proximity to 
the lines, cheering, shaking her handkerchief, blessing 
God that she had lived to see such a day, and seeming 
half beside herself with joy. Several shook hands 



36 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

and conversed with her, to whom she denounced the 
rebels in unmeasured terms, and assured us, that, with- 
out doubt, we should drive them before us like chaff 
before the wind. 

Tills was all very cheering, and kept the men in good 
spirits until we arrived at Vienna, and went into biv- 
ouac, in an open field, about eleven o'clock at night. 

Although the enemy had been there and at Lewins- 
ville on the previous day, they retired as we advanced, 
and cut down trees across the roads in their rear to 
prevent a rapid pursuit. On the 16th and 17th, we 
saw along the roadside various evidences of the haste 
with which they had taken themselves off, in piles 
of blankets, with here and there articles of wearing 
apparel, which they had abandoned in their retreat. 
Before reaching Germantown the next day, a small 
village, containing, perhaps, a dozen houses, situated 
on the road between Vienna and Fairfax Court House, 
it was found that the enemy, or the advance-guard 
of the Union army, had fired most of the buildings ; 
and, by the time the Massachusetts First had reached 
the centre of the town, the flames were bursting 
out in every direction. Not the least attempt was 
made to extinguish these fires, or to save any thing 
from the burning houses. The troops stood still in the 
streets, or sat down by the side of the road, while 
roof after roof fell in ; looking on with a considerable 
degree of interest,, and wondering to which party the 
owners owed the destruction of tlieir property ; but that 
was all. It was indeed a strange spectacle, especially to 
those who, all their lives, had been accustomed to see 
the eagerness with which a whole community would 



CONVERSATION WITH A REBEL SOLDIER. 37 

engage in quenching the conflagration of a single burn- 
ing building. 

The owners had all decamped, or were carried away 
by the rebels, and, if they ever returned, found nothing 
bat heaps of ashes where they left comfortable abodes. 
There was only one exception, and that was a house 
in which were found two rebels sick with the small- 
pox. Curious to see these men, and ascertain from a 
personal interview whether they were so poorly accou- 
tred and supplied as we had been hearing all along, 
I obtained permission to pass the guard, and went in. 
1 found them lying on the floor, without attendant, no 
medicine whatever, and but very little food. One was 
in his shirt-sleeves, and the other had on a sort of faded 
calico sack. In place of cross-belts and roundabouts, 
they had cord and strings. They paid no attention 
whatever to me until I spoke to them, but then an- 
swered civilly enough, though with evident disinclina- 
tion to afford any useful information. I asked the one 
who appeared brightest, — 

" Do you belong to the rebel army ? " 

" Yes." 

"What regiment?" 

"Fifteenth Georgia." 

" Were you born in Georgia? " 

"No: in Scotland." 

" How long have you been in this country ? ** 

" Six years." 

" Where did you live ? " 

" Savannah." 

" Why did you join the rebel army ? " 

" Had to; nothing else doing." 

" Were you forced into the ranks ? " 



38 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

"No: couldn't earn any thing to live on." 

" Do you think it is right to fight for those wlio are 
trying to destroy the Union ? " 

" Don't know ; think it right to fight against in- 
vasion." 

" How many troops have you got here ? " 

"Don't know." 

"Who is in command ? " 

" Don't know." 

" Where have they gone ? " 

" Don't know." 

"Have they intrenched at Centreville? " 

" Don't know." 

" When did they leave here ? " 

" Don't know." 

I found that my respondent would not " know " any 
thing of importance for me to find out, and left him. 
Subsequent inquiries convinced me, that, in intelli- 
gence, he was above the average of the rebel rank and 
file ; and that the great majority of them were as poorly 
provided and cared for as he. 

Arrived in sight of Fairfax Court House, the brigade 
halted, and skirmishers were sent out to ascertain 
whether the enemy held the town. It was found to 
have been abandoned : no guns were in the intrench- 
ments ; and only old men, women, and children, in the 
houses or streets. 

Pressing on, the march was continued to the out- 
skirts of Centreville, where about six o'clock the troops 
went into bivouac for the night. Several stray pigs 
here suffered the death-penalty for encroaching upon 
the limits of the camp, and were at once appropriated 
for rations. 



BIVOUAC AT CENTREVILLE. 39 

As it was known that the enemy were within four 
miles, every precaution was taken to prevent a sur- 
prise before morning. None was attempted, however ; 
and all night long the grass was covered with the pros- 
trate forms of the exhausted men sleeping within reach 
of their weapons. 

Just before morning, a musket was accidentally dis- 
charged, and almost immediately the ground was all 
alive with the aroused soldiers all ready for the enemy ; 
but no enemy appeared, and nothing came of the 
alarm, except an unfortunate accident, whereby William 
B. Boag, of Company K, w^as shot through the fleshy 
part of the leg just above the ankle. But it proved 
only a slight wound, and gave him no more than a 
temporary inconvenience. 

Early in the morning, the march was resumed, with 
the Massachusetts First at the head of the column, fol- 
lowed by the Michigan Second and Third ; the New- 
York Twelfth closing up the rear. 






CHAPTER II. 

Blackburn's ford, and the first bull run. 

" They say the battle has been lost, — what then ? 
There is no need of tears and doleful strains; 
The holy cause for which we fought remains, 
And millions of unconquerable men. 
Repulse may do us good, it should not harm : 
Where work is to be done, 'tis well to know 
Its full extent. Before the final blow, 
Power, nerved to crush, must bare its strong right arm ! 
Rebels, rejoice, then, while j'ou may; for we, 
Driven back a moment by the tide of war, 
Regathered, shall pour on ye from afar 
As mighty and resistless as the sea. 
The battle is not lost Avhile men remain, — 
Free men, and brave, like ours, to fight again ! " 

R. H. Stoddard. 

THE battle of Blackburn's Ford, although hardly 
any thing more than a skirmish or reconnoissance 
in force, has great interest for members of the First 
Regiment, because here they were exposed, for the first 
time, to the fire of the enemy, and here acquired their 
reputation for steadiness and reliability in the field. 

It docs not appear that Gen. McDowell, or the 
other generals in command of divisions and brigades, 
had any special plan to carry out, but only proposed to 
feel of the enemy, and ascertain how their forces were 
posted, and what was the form and character of their 
position. The first brigade had the advance, the 
second was a mile or more behind, and the third and 
fourth were two or tliree miles behind the second. 



I 



«e 




THH FIKST ELUNDER AT EULL RUN. 



BULL RUN BATTLE-GROUND. 41 

The heat of the weather was extremely oppressive, and 
water was so scarce, that many eagerly appropriated 
the contents of puddles in the road, or stagnant 
ditches along the way. Turning off to the left from 
Centre ville, the first brigade marched direct for Bull 
Run by the road leading down to Blackburn's Ford. 
Creeks and brooks in Virginia were called "runs," and 
were usually shallow and insignificant streams, espe- 
cially during the dry season. This was the case with 
Bull Run, which was one of the tributaries of Occo- 
quan River. Its banks were covered with a rank un- 
dergrowth of bushes and thickets, above which towered, 
in certain portions, some of the stateliest forest-trees 
to be found in that part of the State. 

Either side of the Run was peculiarly well adapted 
to the purposes of defensive warfare, as there was a 
gentle slope downwards to the bed of the stream, which 
had worn a deep chasm through the soft, yellowish al- 
luvial soil with which the region abounded. It formed 
thus an impassable barrier to cavalry and artillery, and 
proved to the crafty Beauregard, in command of the 
rebel forces, the best line of defence he could possibly 
have selected. Long ranges of plateaux skirted the 
Run, some of which were cleared and cultivated, and 
others covered with a dense growth of timber. The 
approach to the Ford was apparently through the cen- 
tre of a farm or plantation, with a house, barn, out- 
buildings, and a few fruit-trees on the left, and a large 
wheat-field on the right. In front were woods border- 
ing the Run, where, as our forces came up, rebel pick- 
ets were observed. These suddenly retired at our ap- 
proach ; and the skirmishers advanced half-way down 
the hill to make observations. They discovered nu- 

4* 



42 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

merous indications of the rebel infantry in the cleared 
spots and around certain builiiings, with here and 
there a group of cavalry ; but no batteries were any- 
where in sight. Immediate orders were given to 
bring up the artillery, and for the advance brigade of 
infantry to hasten forward as speedily as possible. The 
first battery was posted on the right of the road, and 
fired twelve or fifteen shot and shell at various objects 
before any notice whatever was taken of it. The ene- 
my then replied with four or five rounds from rifled 
cannon, which proved that their gunners were perfectly 
familiar with the ground, and had got the exact range ; 
when the second battery arrived, and was posted lower 
down on the left. A hot fire was immediately directed 
to the spot whence the enemy's guns had opened ; but, 
after four rounds, they ceased to reply. Just then the 
infantry arrived, and the principal fighting of the day 
commenced. They were posted on both sides of the 
road ; the Massachusetts First being on the left, formed 
in close proximity to the bushes. Into the woods the 
skirmishers advanced under Lieut.-Col. Wells, and 
encountered the enemy almost at once. They opened a 
galling fire of musketry or rifles, but without attempt- 
ing to advance, and seemed only inclined to dispute 
the passage of the Run, which they evidently supposed 
we intended to make at that point. 

Meantime a company had been advanced to take and 
hold the house and barn on the left, which was success- 
fully accomplished, and the company was ordered 
to continue on, and enter the woods as skirmisliers. 
Here they encountered an unexpected embarrassment, 
from the fact that the rebels wore uniforms so nearly 



^ DEATH OF LIEUT. W. H. B. SMITH. 43 

like ours in color, that, a few hundred yards apart, it 
was impossible to tell who were friends, and who foes. 

Lieut. William H. B. Smith discovered the enemy, 
as he supposed ; but seeing how they Avere attired, and 
fearing to give the order to fire, lest he might shoot 
some of our own men, he ran forward, exclaiming, 
" Who are you ? " The rebels replied with the same 
question, " Who are you? " when Lieut. Smith incau- 
tiously responded, " Massachusetts men ; " and no 
sooner had the words left his mouth than the rebels 
replied with a volley which laid him dead upon the 
spot. 

At this point, the skirmishers were joined by a couple 
of Ellsworth's Fire Zouaves, who seemed inclined to do 
a little fighting on their own account. Their regiment 
was at least six miles .behind ; but they had smelled the 
battle from afar, and were impatient to be in the midst 
of it, and see what it was like. So, without waiting 
for the formality of a pass, they mingled with the ad- 
vancing troops, and were among the first to enter the 
woods. Here, being subject to no special orders, they 
roamed about at will, doing excellent service in their 
own way, and picking off several of the enemy's forces. 
In some unaccountable manner, however, they got sepa- 
rated before the close of the fight ; and it was almost 
amusing to hear the lamentations of the one who came 
out last and with evident reluctance, supposing that his 
comrade had been killed or taken prisoner. He was 
actually crying as he went by the regiment, and, upon 
being questioned, replied, — 

" I have lost Jim." 

" Who was he ? " 

'' Jim ? The fellow that went in with me." 



44 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

" What has become of him ? " 

" 'Fraid he's shot ; didn't want to have that fellow 
shot." 

" You seem very fond of him." 

" Yes : that fellow has run in the Fire Department 
with me three years." 

" Well, cheer up : you'll find him in Centreville, 
perhaps." 

" 'Fraid not ; " and off he trudged ; but in Centreville, 
sure enough, he did find his companion uninjured, and 
as full of anxiety about him as he had been himself on 
his account. Both manifested the utmost delight at 
meeting again. 

After companies G and H had gone some distance 
into the woods, they came across a gully, or dry ravine, 
which extended downwards in the direction of Bull 
Run. Following this, they advanced over broken une- 
ven ground, interrupted with high rocks here and 
there ; and pushed ahead towards the rebel battery. 

Here the gray uniforms of the Massachusetts men 
misled certain of the Michigan regiments ; and they 
had already levelled their pieces to take aim, when 
Capt. Carruth ran in among them, inquiring, ^' Who 
are you here ? " — '' Michigan men," was the response. 
'' Well, we are Massachusetts men, don't fire ! " was 
his remonstrance ; and the danger was averted. 

Leaving the ravine, they mounted a moderate de- 
clivity which promised to afford a chance for an obser- 
vation, and found themselves exposed to a murderous 
fire from three separate directions. Each man covered 
himself as well as possible, and sought for an opportu- 
nity to return the fire. But at first the enemy were 
completely invisible. They poured in volley after 



REPULSE ON THE LEFT, 45 

volley, managing to remain concealed themselves. 
At this juncture, one of our guns from Capt. Ayres's 
battery was brought into position, at the head of the 
ravine, and opened upon the several places where the 
rebels lay concealed. This caused a severe fire to be 
concentrated upon the gunners, and so checked their 
operations, that the rebels, supposing the gun could 
be captured, prepared to make an assault. But, just 
as they were advancing. Company F appeared in sup- 
port of the artillerists, and they drew off their piece 
without difficulty. 

While this was going on, the New- York Twelfth Reg- 
iment received an order to occupy the left of the line, 
and advance through the woods in that direction. They 
had no sooner started to obey, than a volley was fired 
directly in front, which threw them into momentary con- 
fusion, and, for a while, completely checked their pro- 
gress. The officers, by dint of great exertion, restored 
order, and succeeded in making another start ; but 
another volley, worse than the former, spread conster- 
nation throughout the ranks, and, without waiting for 
orders or permission, they broke, and fell back in com- 
plete confusion, leaving the left entirely open to the 
enemy. 

This seemed to decide the fate of the day ; for the 
rebels rapidly advanced through the woods, and poured 
in so hot a fire upon the seven companies of the First 
Regiment, which stood in line of battle waiting for or- 
ders, that the men were told to lie down, and let the 
shot fly over. For at least half an hour, they remained 
in this position, unable to advance or retreat ; while 
their skirmishers in the woods beyond, without support, 
were slowly falling back to rejoin them. The rebels 



46 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

seemed greatly emboldened by this movement, for they 
approached the edge of the woods, and formed in line 
of battle : but a few well-directed rounds from the ar- 
tillery drove them under cover again ; and, during the 
remainder of the day, the fighting was mainly confined 
to the batteries. 

As nothing definite had been agreed upon among the 
commanders of the several brigades, concerning the re- 
connoissance at Blackburn's Ford, so throughout the 
day there seems to have been no understood plan of 
action in dealing with the enemy ; and, as everybody 
having any authority had no hesitation in expressing 
his opinion, or issuing his commands, the multiplicity 
of suggestions and orders was simply bewildering to 
the men. Moreover, there seems to have been a some- 
what clumsy arrangement of forces, which allowed 
about three hundred and fifty or four hundred troops to 
do most of the fighting, while several thousands were 
resting in the immediate vicinity, ready and waiting to 
perform their share, if called upon. In falling back, 
nearly every thing was allowed to go by default. The 
Michigan regiments had been located so far from the 
main body of the rebels, and in such a position, away 
from the line of battle, surrounded by hills in every 
direction, that they had no chance to participate in the 
conflict raging on their left. The New- York Twelfth, 
after halting in the woods in the rear of the battle- 
field, were not re-formed and led back to their original 
position, nor was any other regiment required to un- 
dertake the task which they had essayed in vain ; and 
the two pieces of artillery which were sent down from 
Ayers's battery to co-operate with the skirmishers went 
into the woods, without any support ; so that, had the 



INDECISION OF FEDERAL OFFICERS. 47 

enemy made an assault in force, they must have inev- 
itably taken them both with all their men. 

Moreover, the first attempt having proved, in part, a 
failure, as it had uncovered only a portion of the ene- 
my's defences, a second one was not ordered, although 
three or four hours of daylight yet remained, and whole 
brigades could have been summoned to the spot to 
make success a certainty. 

The effect of such indecision or indifference could 
not be otherwise than encouraging to the enemy, while, 
to the same extent, it was discouraging to us. Blame 
cannot justly be attributed to any particular individual, 
inasmuch as caution was indispensable in making ap- 
proaches to a spot rendered so formidable by nature 
and art as the south bank of Bull Run ; but that the 
position was surrendered so early in the day, and with- 
out making a stronger demonstration against it, cannot 
be otherwise than a matter of regret, especially as, in 
leaving the ground, we were obliged to abandon our 
dead and wounded to the enemy, some of the latter of 
whom we were repeatedly assured subsequently were 
bayoneted where they fell. 

The cavalry, who were ordered to co-operate with the 
Twelfth New- York, and prevent any flank movement 
by the enemy on the extreme left of our lines, found 
it utterly impossible to advance on horseback through 
the forest, and were obliged to dismount, and proceed 
on foot. When the Twelfth fell back, several rifled 
cannon-balls were sent in among them, which made 
their position extremely uncomfortable ; and knowing 
they could obtain no artillery in such a place, and 
that, while the enemy might seriously injure them, they 
could not reach a man on their side, they remounted. 



48 THE FIEST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

and dashed through the woods to their original position 
in the rear. Simultaneously with this, Companies G 
and H, having reached a sheltered position, took a 
short breathing-spell, and, not being followed by the 
enemy, began to contemplate the possibility of a return 
in order to rescue their wounded comrades, and bring 
out the dead. At first there was considerable hesita- 
tion ; but, when the officers boldly advanced, the men as 
eagerly followed. Without much opposition, they 
reached the old spot, but again encountered such a 
withering fire poured in upon them from three sepa- 
rate points, that they were compelled to withdraw with- 
out effecting their purpose. 

Now commenced the general retrograde movement. 
Three fresh regiments liad just been double-quicked 
up to support any farther advance ; but it was deemed 
expedient to retire, and the word was given. V 

None of the troops were in any hurry about it, neith- 
er was there the slightest trace of any panic or tumult. 
The batteries on either side exchanged a few parting 
shots, ours firing the last gun, when the position was 
abandoned, and the troops marched back at leisure to 
Centreville. 

No attempt was made by the enemy to pursue the 
retiring column, they continuing to act simply on the 
defensive, as during most of tlie day they had done. 
It was very evident, too, that they stood in salutary 
dread of our well-served artillery, whose fire, we sub- 
sequently learned, had been fearfully destructive. 
Upon reaching Centreville, it was found that the whole 
vicinity was alive with troops, comprising infantry, cav- 
alry, and artillery ; most of whom had been marching 
all day, and were completely exhausted by the heat 



THE FIRST REGIMENT UNDER FIRE. 49 

of the weather, and the unusual exertion they were 
obliged to put forth to reach the sc3ne of conflict. 

The results of the preliminary skirmish at Black- 
burn's Ford, although not so gratifying as the most 
sanguine had anticipated, were of great importance, 
nevertheless, both to officers and men. To thousands 
it was the first time they had ever been under fire ; 
and they found, contrary to the insulting predictions 
of secessionists and their allies, that they could stand 
under it. Tried veterans could hardly have exhibited 
more intrepidity and coolness than did these inexperi- 
enced volunteers, fresh from the farms, workshops, 
counting-rooms, and sale-counters of the North. 

The seven companies of the First, not acting as skir- 
mishers, were exposed for over two hours to the galling 
fire of an enemy, the only evidences of whose proxim- 
ity were the crack of his rifles, the thunder of his ar- 
tillery, and the whir, the shriek, or sharp buzz of the 
deadly missiles he sent flying over and among them. 
While they were in the open field most of the time, 
the enemy were perfectly concealed ; but not a man 
quailed who had marched into the field ; and, with 
very few exceptions, not one but obeyed with instanta- 
neous alacrity every order given, from the beginning 
to the end of the struggle. Col. Cowdin was repeat- 
edly shot at by rebel marksmen, who singled out his 
tall form as a sure target for their bullets ; but he 
maintained his position, and moved round among his 
men as unflinching and resolute as during an ordinary 
parade. Lieut.-Col. Wells and Major Chandler were 
also full of valor and spirit; and Massachusetts pluck 
was signally illustrated by officers and privates along 
the entire line. 

5 



50 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

On the road from Centreville to the battle-field, and 
throughout the woods and bushes contiguous, blankets, 
overcoats, canteens, knapsacks, haversacks, books, 
maps, and various other articles, were strewn in hete- 
rogeneous confusion. The heat was most oppressive, 
the dust stifling, the roads rough, and every thing that 
could be parted with was thrown aside without cere- 
mony. Some men entered the field, having on only 
shoes, pants, shirt, hat, musket, and accoutrements. 
Several were sun-struck, and fell out by the roadside, 
utterly unable to proceed. 

The engagement lasted almost continuously from 
twelve o'clock till five, and was fought throughout in 
an experimental sort of a way, as it was known that the 
enemy had a habit of masking his batteries, and keep- 
ing under cover as pertinaciously as so many Indians, 
until assured of some decided advantage ; and it was 
determined not to give him this advantage by being 
drawn into any of the numerous traps with which 
roads, woods, and thickets abounded, if possible to 
avoid it. 

It has been said that our forces were beaten at 
Blackburn's Ford; but so strong an expression was 
hardly justified by subsequent results. They simply 
failed. Had they been beaten, they would have been 
driven off the field, and compelled to leave it in pos- 
session of the enemy. But, to my certain knowledge, 
they fired the last shot ; and, when they withdrew, not 
a rebel was in sight, and not one undertook to follow 
them, or occupy the ground they voluntarily aban- 
doned. Our troops, moreover, sheltered neither by 
trees, banks, fences, houses, nor walls, able to protect 
themselves when the fire was most severe only by fall- 



CASUALTIES IN THE FIRST REGIMENT. 51 

ing flat upon their faces, obeyed the order to retire 
with evident reluctance, and were as full of resolution 
when the contest ended as when it began. 

Our losses exceeded those of the rebels somewhat, 
— if Beauregard's official report may be credited as re- 
gards that of the enemy, — amounting to twenty-nine 
killed, forty-six wounded, and thirty-eight missing ; 
while he sums up a total of only sixty-eight, or fifteen 
killed and fifty-three wounded. 

The following list was copied from the adjutant's of- 
ficial report of the First Regiment the day after the 
battle, July 19 : — 

Company C : Missing, John W. Boss ; returned. 

Company D : Wounded in camp, not fatally. Ser- 
geant Moses H. Warren. 

Company G : Killed, Second Lieut. William H. B. 
Smith, Sergeant Gordon Forrest, Ebenezer Field, 
Thomas Riorno, William H. Smart, James S. Silvey. 

Company G : Missing, Austin Bigelow, Michael J. 
Desmond, — taken prisoners, exchanged, and mustered 
out with the regiment ; Edward Field, taken prisoner 
and exchanged ; Charles G. Fuller, Samuel T. Long, 
taken prisoners, exchanged, and discharged for disa- 
bility ; George J. Moore, taken prisoner and exchanged ; 
Tliomas S. Parker, taken prisoner, exchanged, and 
mustered out with the regiment ; Richard P. Rowe, 
wounded, captured, exchanged, and discharged for dis- 
ability ; William A. Searles, taken prisoner, exchanged, 
and mustered out for disability ; Eugene Stimson, 
taken prisoner, exchanged, and mustered out by order 
of the War Department, Jan. 10, 1863. 

Company H : Killed, Sergeant Thomas Harding, 



52 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

George Bacon, Philander Crowell, James H. Murphy, 
Thomas Needham, Albert F. Wentworth. 

Company H : Wounded, William H. Lane, George 
G. Learned, William Grantman, Orville Bisbee, Nelson 
S. Huse, George W. Gray, William D. Grover. 

Company I: Killed, Corporal Oliver E. Simpson. 

Company K : Wounded in camp, Joseph Eltraher, 
William R. Boag. 

Company K : Missing, George Wheeler ; returned, 
discharged for disability. 

On the night of the 18th, the troops went into bi- 
vouac just out of Centreville, and the next morning 
returned to the woods skirting the battle-field of the 
previous day. They found that the enemy still re- 
tained their former position, having neither advanced 
nor fallen back. Arrangements were at once made to 
picket the entire position ; and two companies, I and 
:K, were sent for this purpose, about a mile to the left, 
to a farm-house approachable by bridle-paths from va- 
rious directions, which it was deemed expedient to 
hold for the present. During the night of the 19tli, 
great activity prevailed on both sides. Troops were 
hurrying up the turnpike from Washington and Fairfax 
Court House to reenforce McDowell ; and the rum- 
bling of heavy trains, with the frequent whistling of lo- 
comotives, in direction of the Manassas-Gap Railroad, 
showed that the rebel numbers were being augmented 
as rapidly as possible. During the night the regiment 
was roused from its slumbers six or eight times by the 
discharge of muskets in rapid succession, showing that 
the pickets were on the alert ; and the men turned out 
at once each time, and stood prepared for whatever 
might follow. But it invariably appeared that the 



CENTREVILLE. 53 

picket had been disturbed by some innocent cow, had 
mistaken a tree for a man, or, hearing a noise, had 
fired in the direction whence it proceeded, without wait- 
ing to ascertain tlie cause. The rebels also seemed 
exceedingly uneasy, and kept up an almost uninter- 
rupted fusillade along their picket line ; once or twice 
discharging whole regimental volleys in rapid succes- 
sion, as if sure they were about to be assailed. Morn- 
ing found the position of both parties relatively the 
same, however ; and the day wore away without any 
material change. 

Centreville during this time had been the great focus 
of interest; for here the wounded had been gathered, 
and here likewise the dead were buried. It would 
seem that, in a well-known Virginia town on the high 
road, only thirty miles from the capital, boards enough 
might have been found to make into rude cofiins for a 
few of the dead, but they could not be ; and, as it was 
necessary to bury them immediately, they were wrapped 
and covered with their own blankets, and thus consigned 
to the earth. In»this poverty-stricken town, it was im- 
possible to find supplies of any kind or description. 
The few people who remained had either hidden, sold, 
or been deprived of their stores, and neither wounded 
nor sick could obtain any thing beyond what was brought 
out in the regimental teams. It should be remembered, 
too, that, at this early stage of the war, no ambulance 
system had been adopted, nor had the hospital depart- 
ment received the study, care, and attention subse- 
quently bestowed. Quite a number of congressmen 
and other civilians had followed in the wake of the 
army to see the fighting, bringing their refreshments 
with them ; and I can testify that they shared of tlieir 

5* 



54 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

abundance with many a poor fellow who had noth- 
ing, in no stinted or niggardly manner. 

Tlie night of the 20th was mainly a repetition of the 
19th, excepting that the principal street of Centreville 
was a constant thoroughfare for bodies of troops hurry- 
ing forward to form in line of battle for the rapidly 
approaching conflict. The position of the Massachusetts 
First had been considerably strengthened by earthworks 
thrown up in the road, and trees cut down to pre- 
vent entrance from the front into the woods ; but, in 
other respects, it remained unchanged. Aroused re- 
peatedly during the night, the men had made up for it 
by sleep in the daytime, and, excepting some dissatis- 
{\iction for tlie scant quantity and poor quality of their 
rations, were in excellent temper and spirits. It should 
be remembered that only subsistence enough to last 
three days had been taken from Camp Banks in the 
haversacks of the men ; and as this had been exhausted 
Friday afternoon, during Saturday, and until noon on 
Sunday, when the supply-wagons came up, they had 
lived literally from hand to mouth. )^ 

Sunday morning, July 21, every one was up early. 
Troops had been hi motion nearly all night. Gen. 
Tyler was to form his division at two, a.m., on the War- 
renton Turnpike, threatening the passage of the bridge. 
The second and third divisions were to move between 
two and three, a.m., to the Sudley-Spring Ford, and, 
crossing Bull Run at this point, menace the rebel left 
and centre. The fifth division was to remain in reserve 
at Centreville and vicinity, holding Blackburn's Ford, 
and making sucli demonstrations with artillery as miglit 
be deemed advisable. 

We had more than tliirty thousand men, of whom 



FIRST BATTLE OF' BULL RUN. 55 

eighteen thousand were engaged ; the enemy over 
forty, and some state nearer sixty thousand, with nearly 
thirty thousand engaged. Soon after six o'clock in the 
morning, a rifled Parrott thirty-two-pounder began to 
shell the woods beyond Blackburn's Ford, to discover if 
possible the whereabouts of the rebel batteries. Nothing 
made response but the reverberations whicli rolled over 
the hills, and shook the woods for miles around. But 
it was the signal, the dread note of preparation, for the 
deadly work about to commence along both lines of 
battle. The enemy remained obstinately under cover. 
They had constructed their lines of defence, planted 
their guns, and posted their infantry in the best posi- 
tions the country would afford ; and it was evident that 
our troops must ferret them out. Ult was a kind of 
warfare well calculated to test the valor of the bravest 
men ; and neither few nor weak were the maledictions 
heaped upon these skulking exponents of Southern 
chivalry for refusing fair fight in the open field. But 
this new kind of hide and seek had got to be played 
out to its fearful and bloody end ; so the men tightened 
their belts, examined their pieces, and began in skirmish 
line their cautious hunt after the lurking foe. In the 
centre and beyond, on the plains of Manassas, the coun- 
try was open, but on either side, closed in a semi-circu- 
lar belt of untrimmed woods, whose obscure depths 
were fearfully ominous of ambuscades, masked batte- 
ries, and whole brigades of infantry lying flat on their 
faces, waiting to pour in their murderous fire. As the 
. skirmishers approached the trees, a white puff of smoke 
here and there, followed by a sharp crack and the 
snappish ring of the rifle-bullet, told that they had not 
been unobserved. Advancing still, followed by a bat- 



56 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

tery and a line of battle debouching right and left, the 
intermittent shots became more regular and rapid, 
until, as they entered the woods, the entire solitude 
seemed suddenly peopled with angry masses of troops 
who broke forth into volleys of musketry so fierce and 
rapid, accompanied with rounds of artillery concealed 
behind fallen trees so close and fatal, that our troops 
were fain to retire and re-form. But, having found their 
foe, it soon became his turn to receive fires as rapid 
and fiercer than his own. A system of fighting so das- 
tardly had only the effect to fill the Union soldiers 
witli indignation ; and when their blood was up it mat- 
tered not what obstacles presented themselves, for noth- 
ing seemed insurmountable. Batteries were brought 
up, planted, and trained upon the hostile lurking- 
places, sharp-shooters crept within easy range, and 
made a target of the puffs of white smoke which gave 
assurance of men close by them ; and regiments pene- 
trating the forest took each one to his tree, and fired 
at will. So folio whig a retreating line, they came all of 
a sudden upon a battery of eight guns. It opened al- 
most in their faces, but, fortunately, was aimed too high. 
The shot flew over. Uncovered, however, it was im- 
mediately assailed in front and flank. The gunners 
loaded and fired with furious energy ; but every mo- 
ment saw one or more of them crippled or slain. The 
great rifled Parrott dropped its shells close by their am- 
munition-chests, while Carlisle's howitzers swept the 
space between cannon and caisson with such an iron 
storm, that one after another the guns were silenced, and 
the rebels forced to lie down to save themselves from 
annihilation. 

At the same time, far up on the right, Burnside's 



ADVANCE OF THE FEDERAL LINE. 57 

brigade, having crossed Bull Run in pursuance to or- 
ders, was immediately assaulted by the enemy in force, 
who made every possible effort to drive it back before 
the rest of the division could get over to its assistance, 
or Col. Heintzleman's division form to approach the 
hostile centre. But it was in vain. Whole regiments 
broke from the column, leaped fences, jumped ditches, 
and advanced upon the double-quick to the support of 
their hardly pressed comrades. 

The rebels were evidently taken by surprise. Every- 
where they found themselves confronted by the Federal 
forces. They were heated, panting, and stripped, some 
of them, almost to the skin, but full of fight, and deter- 
mined to advance. Fire was opened upon them from 
infantry and artillery along the entire front. The 
killed and wounded fell by scores. Hunter himself had 
been disabled, Col. Slocum was killed. Col. Marston 
wounded, Major Ballou severely injured: the field 
seemed half covered with men bearing a comrade be- 
tween them saturated with blood to the hospital, but still 
the line moved on. Fresh battalions marched forward 
relieving those whose guns were overheated or whose 
cartridge-boxes were empty, and increasing the enthusi- 
asm already wrought up to a fearful pitch, when slowly 
and sullenly the enemy gave way. Instantly it was 
observed, and instantly the fact was announced by ov- 
derlies riding furiously along the whole line. If the 
men needed encouragement, they now had it. Burn- 
side and Porter were doubling up the rebel left with 
every volley, while Tyler and Heintzleman came thun- 
dering down upon the centre, pressing back the reluc- 
tant columns through woods, and over the plains, and 
making it evident to the most distant spectator that the 



58 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS BEGUIENT. 



\ 



day was almost ours. Several charges had been made 
upon the enemy's lines, during which our men rushed 
with irresistible impetuosity upon them, forcing them to | 
give ground at the point of the bayonet. The New- 
York Sixty-Ninth Volunteers were especially notice- 
able for the vigor and spirit with which they performed 
this service. They took upon the flank one regiment, 
which, having retreated into a hay-field, endeavored to 
make a stand, and retrieve its failing fortunes. The 
men rushed at them utterly beside themselves with 
belligerent ardor. They threw away knapsacks, coats, 
and haversacks, and stripped, as though each man 
was preparing to have a personal set-to. The enemy 
did not wait for the shock of a collision. One volley ; 
and they sought safety in flight. So from point to 
point they were being pressed back along the whole line i 
of battle. Our men invariably beat them when they 
endeavored to make a stand in the open field, and from 
most of their lurking-places in the woods, they had been 
gradually unearthed ; so that in all directions it became 
evident that they were being sorely discomfited, and 
were inclined to give way. 

Still, wherever they could, they disputed every inch 
of our advance. At noon, the battle raged furiously 
along a line at least three miles in extent. The roll of 
musketry, the roar of cannon, the bursting of shells, ^ 
the dull whir of solid shot, intermingled with the shouts 
of thousands, made an incessant din. Far above every 
thing else, now and then would sound out the boom of 
the thirty-two-pound Parrott ; and then the batteries, one 
after another, in rapid succession, would discharge all 
their guns, raising an uproar which was heard as far as 
Fairfax Station, Alexandria, and even Washington itself. 



THE REBEL LINE FORCED BACK. 59 

Above woods, meadows, and hill-tops rose clouds of 
thin bluish-white smoke from the guns of the foemen 
below ; while the roads in every direction were distinctly 
marked by immense volumes of dust, which rose over 
the trees, and were borne away by the wind as the 
various bodies of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, were 
\ manoeuvred to take fresh positions along the front of 
I battle. 

I Near the centre of the contending forces was a high 
j hill commanding the country around in every direction. 
I The tide of battle had swept along its base several 
i times in succession ; but it became at last important that 
I it should be carried and held. Upon it was an open 
rebel battery with long lines of riflemen gathered for 
\ its support. Every regiment that advanced against it 
was almost a forlorn hope ; but seven or eight times in 
succession, through a perfect storm of iron and lead, 
half a dozen of our regiments did advance against it, 
finally paused upon its summit, unfurled the stars and 
stripes, and raised cheer on cheer over their victorious 
achievement. Pursuing their advantage over the hill 
and down into the valley, they met in nearly every en- 
counter the same inspiriting good luck. The columns of 
the enemy everywhere fell back. Breastwork after 
breastwork was scaled and carried, thicket after thicket 
cleared out, battery after battery unmasked ; and as 
now the rebels seemed less furious in their resistance, 
less rapid in their firing, less obstinate in the mainte- 
nance of their positions, our own fire began to slacken, 
and hundreds of our men who had been at work nearly 
fourteen hours in smoke, dust, and insufferable heat, 
half famished with hunger and thirst, improved the 
temporary lull to procure a little refreshment. 



60 THE Fin ST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

But the enemy were still hard at work, — not now with 
powder and ball, but hurrying forward reenforcements 
as fast as cars could land them upon the field. It is 
doubtful, had tlie attack been continued, if they would 
have stood at all. Having been apparently abandoned, 
they made preparations to renew it themselves. By 
some unfortunate blunder on our part, batteries were 
allowed to take post in an open field without any in- 
fantry support, or, as some say, the commanding officer 
was deceived in supposing that a regiment of rebels in 
the woods close by was the Federal infantry support ; 
and, sooner than it takes to write it, a withering fire but 
a few hundred yards distant had killed aiKl wounded 
horses, cut down cannoneers, and thus disabled most 
of the guns. At about the same time, firing was re- 
sumed by the rebels along nearly their entire front ; and, 
by another unfortunate blunder, our men, lying down 
and resting, snatching a morsel to eat, or attending to 
their wounded comrades, were not in a condition at ; 
once to return it. By another unfortunate blunder \ 
still, commissary wagons and other military teams had ^ 
been allowed to drive indiscriminately upon the battle-' 
field, with ammunition and supplies, instead of being 
properly parked in the rear ; and whenever cannon-shot 
or shell from the rebel batteries fell into ^ their midst, 
they caused confusion, and, finally, at the close of the; 
day, a general stampede. 

By still another unfortunate blunder, the reserve 
forces stationed at Centreville and Fairfax Court House 
were not called upon to participate in the engagement 
at all. During tlie entire day, they heard tlie roar 
of tlie conflict, and saw many of the wounded as 
they were brought from the field ; but themselves re-| ■ 



. RETROGRADE MOVEMENT. 61 

mained inactive, and might as well have been in the 
moon. It is said also that some lumdreds of civilians 
who were very eager and anxious to see the fighting 
were no less eager and anxious to drive out of the way 
when the enemy took position where their proximity 
might prove dangerous ; adding by their trepidation and 
hasty retirement not a little to the alarms of the hour. 
There is no doubt that the enemy knew exactly how 
many men we had, and what would be the general plan 
of our attack : for farmers, and other residents of the re- 
gion all about, were allowed the freedom of our lines, 
and, on various pretexts, were constantly passing in and 
out of our camps. 

Gen. Scott declares that our forces were in too 
much of a hurry, too eager, too confident, too certain 
of victory, and tried in one day to accomplish the work 
of three. Be that as it may, the day seemed to be 
ours, the victory just within our grasp, defeat an utter 
impossibility, when, all of a sudden, every tiling was 
reversed. 

The unsupported gunners of Griffin's and Rickett's 
batteries fell back, leaving their pieces at the mercy 
of the enemy. The exhausted infantry, taken at a 
disadvantage, deprived of nearly all their officers in 
various ways, fought stubbornly a while, and then fell 
back, some according to orders, and some without 
\ orders. The supply-teams made off at full speed, 
aiming for the nearest place of safety. Lookers-on 
from all quarters joined in the general retrograde ; and 
the day which had been so nearly won was utterly and 
irretrievably lost. The flight that followed, over hill 
and plain, along the roads, and through the fields or 
woods, it seemed utterly impossible to arrest. Hun- 



62 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

dreds of brave men attempted it, some of them civil- 
ians ; commanding, imploring, and trying to shame the 
troops into making a stand ; but the tide had turned, 
and it carried every thing before it. For miles, and 
from all parts of the battle-field, a heterogeneous throng 
of soldiers poured along, some on the keen jump, and 
others hurrying to get out of the way, without any 
regard to orders, officers, or plan of operations. Army- 
wagons, ammunition-teams, sutler's conveyances, hacks, 
barouches, country carts, pieces of artillery, and cais- 
sons drove wildly ahead, knocking down many of the 
fugitives, and adding to the general dismay. At one 
bridge, where tlie passage had become obstructed, 
horses were cut loose from teams and batteries, mounted 
by whomsoever happened to be nearest and strongest, 
and driven rapidly away. Men were constantly shout- 
ing, " Where is the regiment ? " as they swarmed along 
towards Centreville ; and their only answer was the 
same question, asked from another quarter. The cav- 
alry, in a state of complete disorganization, mixed in 
with the infantry, and spurred tlieir horses along with- 
out any regard to life or limb, while ponderous gun- 
carriages came dashing through the crowd, scattering 
it right and left, or crushing under their heavy wheels 
those unable to get out of the way. By the road-side 
sat many of the wounded with arms, lieads, or hands 
bound up, and piteously besought horsemen to take 
them up behhid, or tried to climb into the wagons 
which had been emptied of their contents, and filled 
with terror-palsied runaways. In some cases they 
were successful ; but in others they were answered by 
oaths, or pushed off with bayonets. Military property 
of every description was abandoned wholesale. Pow- 



THE FEDERAL ARMY PANIC-STRICKEN. 63 

der, cannon-balls, muskets, cartridges, clothing, accoutre- 
ments, harnesses, shovels, picks, cooking-utensils, axes, 
blankets, and tents strewed the roads for miles, or were 
piled up in the fields in heaps. At least a dozen supply- 
wagons had been capsized, intentionally or otherwise, and 
their contents appropriated without waiting for the usual 
forms. Barrels of flour, sugar, rice, and coffee, chests 
of tea, sacks of corn and oats, boxes of hard-bread, 
casks of vinegar and molasses, with liberal supplies of 
corned beef and salt pork, stood open in the road, no 
one to guard them, thougli surrounded by soldiers, 
and were issued without regard to the " rules and regu- 
lations," and in utter defiance of " red tape." 

Not till the retreating army reached the vicinity of 
Centreville, did they seem relieved of the intense anx- 
iety which had spread throughout their ranks. There, 
extending across the road, and reaching far out into 
the fields on both sides, was Blenker's brigade. They 
were to guard the rear. They stood firm as the hills, 
while the panic-stricken multitude rushed through 
their line like a tornado. From five o'clock till sunset, 
throughout the evening, and until two o'clock the next 
morning, Blenker held this position, putting forward 
his skirmishers at every sign of an attack from the 
enemy's cavalry, and repulsing one about eleven, P. M., 
which, had it been successful, would have opened the 
way for their whole army to take up the pursuit. As 
it was, the rebel cavalry were driven back ; the throng- 
ing, hurrying multitude got by ; the sick, the slightly 
wounded, the worn out, came on in thinner lines, with 
larger and larger spaces between their jaded and stag- 
gering groups ; and at last the brigade took up tlie line 
of march towards Washington, leaving the battle-field, 



64 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

where such prodigies of valor had been performed, 
alas ! it seemed in vain, strewn with our dead and 
wounded, and several hospitals, tilled with those too 
seriously injured for removal, in the hands of the 
enemy. 

At Blackburn's Ford, where the Massachusetts First 
had been stationed throughout the day, no demonstra- 
tion had been obtained from the enemy until night. 
Although it had been anticipated that they would make 
their principal assault in this direction, they seemed to 
have divined or been made acquainted with Gen. 
McDowell's plan of attack upon their left, and devoted 
all their energies to its repulse. Hence, although Col. 
Richardson shelled their position repeatedly with a 
couple of ten-pound rifle-guns, holding four regiments 
in line of battle to be ready for every emergency, they 
made no response. All day long the men watched the 
woods, the road, the clouds of dust and smoke, and 
the progress of the fighting on their right, but had no 
enemy to meet themselves. Two companies of the First 
( I and K ) were in and around the buildings of a 
farm, considerably to the left of the line. Another 
company half-way between the two positions had been 
stationed in a ravine, with pickets thrown out to the 
front ; and the balance of the regiment was posted on 
the right, in line of battle in the edge of a piece of woods 
on the crest of a commanding eminence, just in the 
rear of Lieut. Green's regular battery. So the day 
wore away. About noon, the mail arrived and was dis- 
tributed. Abundant rations also had been brought for- 
ward ; and, as every thing had apparently been going 
in our favor, the soldiers were in the best of spirits. 
Various bodies of rebel troops had been observed 



POSITION OF THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS. 65 

throiigli field-glasses, gathering in front and on the 
left of our position, which had accordingly been 
strengthened by throwing up a parapet of earth, having 
three embrasures to rake the road, and by forming an 
abatis of trees extending several hundred feet to the 
right and left. 

Skirmishers had advanced into the woods, nearly in 
front, but fell back upon finding the enemy in force ; 
not having any instructions to attack. 

At five o'clock, p.m., orders were passed down tlie 
line to fall back. What could it mean ? At the same 
time some movements were observed on the left, and 
soon after a heavy column of rebel infantry advanced 
cautiously along a ravine fronting the farm-house held 
by Companies 1 and K, and endeavored to file to the 
right. They were challenged repeatedly, but without 
obtaining any reply, and at last fired at. The fire 
they immediately returned, and the action became 
general. Our men were in a log-barn firing through 
the chinks, and behind a Virginia fence aiming over 
the rails. They were assisted also by Capt. Hunt's 
battery, which threw shell and canister into the rebel 
ranks, so that they were compelled to fall back, and 
cover themselves within the ravine again. The order 
then came round that our forces were to retire. Lieut. 
Elijah B. Gill, jun., of Company I, had been instantly 
killed by a rifie-ball through the heart ; and Corporal 
John F. Baxter, of K, dangerously wounded. Stretclier- 
bearers were appointed to carry both to the rear, and 
in good order the place was left behind. Arrived upon 
the hill just this side of Centreville, it was found that 
the army of the North was in full retreat. Hundreds 

6* 



66 TEE FIFST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

upon liuiidreds of bewildered and excited soldiers were 
rushing along through dust and confusion towards 
Fairfax Court House. With the other regiments of 
the brigade, the First quietly formed in a hollow square 
in rear of the artillery, which, meantime, had been 
playing upon the rebel cavalry advance, and, soon 
after dark, most of the men laid down and went to 
sleep. At this time, a grave was hastily dug for Lieut. 
Gill ; funeral services were held over his remains by 
candle-light ; and he was laid in his last resting- 
place. 

Between eleven and twelve o'clock, the brigade was 
aroused, and started in rear of the artillery towards 
Washington. It was the last brigade but one to leave 
the field, and moved away as quietly as to a change of 
camps. The road, by this time, had become compara- 
tively clear, and at every step we saw evidences of the 
haste and terror in which our forces had made off. 
About daylight on the 22d, a moderate rain set in. It 
proved a great blessing to many. At noon, the regi- 
ment reached Canal Bridge, nearly opposite George- 
town, and was delayed two hours, waiting for a pass 
to go over into camp. At last the pass arrived ; and 
the weary men, hungry, drenched, and sorely per- 
plexed by our unexpected failure, marched into their 
tents, took supper, and were soon stretched upon the 
ground in profound slumber. 

The national loss at Bull Run was fifteen hundred 
and ninety ; killed alone, four hundred and seventy- 
nine. 

The rebel loss was fifteen hundred and ninety-three, 
of whom three Imndred and ninety-three were killed. 



^ 



FEDERAL LOSSES. 67 

We lost also twenty-nine pieces of artillery, a large 
number of wagons, and some several hundred thou- 
sand dollars' worth of property. 

But we lost neither heart, nerve, will, confidence, 
nor determination. We had failed in a battle, but not 
for the war. 





CHAPTER III. 



FORT ALBANY, BLADENSBURG, AND LOWER MARYLAND. 



" All quiet along the Potomac to-night, 
Where the soldiers lie peacefully dreaming; 
Their tents in the rays of the clear autumn moon, 
Or the light of the watch-fires, ai-e gleaming. 

There's only the sound of the lone sentry's tread 
As he tramps from the rock to the fountain. 
And thinks of the two in the low trundle-bed 
Far away in the cot on the mountain." — Anon, 



THE regiment was not permitted to remain long 
at Camp Banks. On the morning of the 23d, 
orders were received to pack up every tiling, and 
move across the Potomac to tlie vicinity of Arlington 
Heights. By noon, the companies were in motion. 
Nothing transpired on the route worthy of mention, 
and at night the men turned into a field, about a mile 
from Washington in a straight line, on the Potomac, 
or rather on the canal which crossed it just above 
this point. The night was passed in the open air, in 
consequence of the tents not having arrived in time. 
The place chosen for the camp proved to be an unfor- 
tunate selection, on account of its dampness and the 
heavy fogs at night ; and, after remaining one day and 
two nigiits, the camp was removed to Fort Albany, an 
earthwork just commenced upon the most elevated 
spot of ground on Arlington Heights, overlooking not 



FORT ALBANY. 69 

iiily Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria, but 
he country round about for nearly a dozen miles in 
very direction. In the vicinity of the capital, and 
hroughout the country, it was pretty generally ex- 
)ected that Beauregard would follow up the advantage 
le had gained on the 21st instant, collect troops and 
Qunitions of war as speedily as possible, and lay siege 
o Washington. A formidable cordon of forts was 
herefore projected for its protection. They were to 
>e connected by unbroken lines of rifle-pits, covered 
rays, and breastworks to shield infantry ; and to em- 
irace an area of at least twenty miles across, and a 
lundred miles or more in circumference. The forts 
VQVQ all located on the highest hills surrounding the 
;ity of Alexandria and the District of Columbia, and 
^ere constructed of earth, timber, and some masonry, in 
he most thorough and careful manner. They contained 
veils, bomb-proofs, and magazines ; were surrounded 
s^ith ditches, fringed and planted with abatis of sharp- 
)ointed branches ; and mounted variously a dozen, fif- 
een, twenty, or more guns, of every caliber. To give 
,hese guns the widest possible range, forest-trees, 
proves, and orchards were levelled with the ground all 
iround them ; and, in some instances, houses and 
)arns torn down or removed. 

Fort Albany was situated south-west from the city 
)f Washington about two miles, and by the road over 
Liong Bridge four or five. It overlooked a long stretch 
)f the Potomac River, and nearly the whole extent of 
;he capital, from the Georgetown line above to the 
Washington Navy Yard below. Its heavy guns were 
ntended to command not only the river and city in 



70 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

front, but also the whole sweep of farming country 
extending to the south and west. 

Previous to taking possession of tliis fort, the regi- 
ment was reviewed by President Lincoln, Secretary 
Seward, Col. Richardson, and others, and, after arriv- 
ing there, by an aide of Gen. McClellan's. Its num- 
bers had been somewhat diminished by discharges for 
disability and other causes ; but those who remained 
were full of loyalty, spirit, and confidence in our final 
success. For several days, the forenoons were occupied 
in felling timber all round the fort, and the afternoons 
in battalion or brigade drills. New clothing was is- 
sued to the men ; and, on the 29th of July, they were 
paid off to the first of the month in gold and silver. 

They seemed fully to appreciate the gravity of the 
charge they had received ; namely, to hold, and, if 
need be, defend, Fort Albany against assault; and 
entered upon the requisite preliminary drill with the 
big guns in right good earnest. It was an inter- 
ruption to their regular duties as infantry by no 
means fancied by some of their officers, however ; but 
orders have to be obeyed, and the heavy pieces were 
rolled backwards and forwards for the stipulated time 
each day, in mimic loading and firing at imaginary 
foes, until they were handled with the utmost celerity 
and ease. 

About this time, crowds of visitors — friends of the 
soldiers, or novelty-seekers in general — used to besiege 
the office of the Provost Marshal in Washington for 
passes to the camps. In most cases, they were suc- 
cessful ; and it was quite a treat to see them among 
the tents. Gen. B. F. Butler made a semi-official visit 
of inspection ; and his honor Mayor Wightman, ac- 



FREQUENT NIGHT ALARMS. 71 

companied by Aldermen Amory, Hatch, Pray, Par- 
meiiter. Rich, and Wilson, with Councilmen Burr, 
Barker, Clark, and Richards, from Boston, gave us a 
call at Fort Albany. These visitors generally brought 
something with them, or left something behind them, 
which afforded tangible evidence of their thorough 
sympathy with the soldiers, and thus contributed no 
little to keep them steadfast to the cause. 

Night-alarms were of frequent occurrence. The 
enemy were encamped in force within ten miles ; and 
every regiment on our side was kept in constant readi- 
ness to repel an assault. Temporary earthworks, com- 
manding the road for several miles, had been thrown 
up at various points ; and from these alarms would 
occusionally be communicated, which aroused the sol- 
diers of a Avhole brigade. They would fall into line 
in the darkness, wait half an hour or more, and then 
resume their slumbers. 

Scouts and spies were, without doubt, constantly cir- 
culating through the national camps, gathering and 
conveying all the information needed at rebel head- 
quarters as to our numbers, occupation, and designs. 
From the back country they came with fruits, pies, 
eggs, &c., and, under the guise of innocent hucksters, 
passed in and out unquestioned. Several avowed se- 
cessionists were also allowed to remain in the undis- 
turbed possession of their houses in the vicinity, be- 
cause they had not taken up arms against us, although 
it was well understood what their sympathies were, 
and what they would be likely to do under favorable 
circumstances. 

It must be confessed that the country had hardly 
begun to realize the extent of the struggle before it, 



72 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

or the nature of tlic foe with which it had got to con- 
tend. According to a special order issued by Beaure- 
gard at Manassas, July 23, all classes of citizens in 
Virginia were expected to contribute their quota of 
forage to the rebel army, and, if any should presume 
to deny their obligations, " constraint was to be em- 
ployed." 

In Richmond, Ya., a call was issued for an organized 
association of freebooters and cut-throats, to be called 
the " Devoted Band." It read as follows : — 

" The shortest path to peace is that which carries 
havoc and desolation to our invaders. It is believed 
that there are five or ten thousand men in the South 
ready and willing to share the fate of Curtius, and de- 
vote tliemselves to the salvation of their country. It 
is proposed that they shall arm themselves with a 
sword, two five-sliooters, and a carabine each, and 
meet on horseback at some place to be designated, con- 
venient for the great work on hand. Fire and sword 
must be carried to the houses of those who are visiting 
tliose ])lessings upon their neighbors. Philadelphia, and 
even New York, are not beyond the reach of a .long 
and brave arm. The moral people of these cities can- 
not be better taught the virtues of invasion than by 
the blazing light of their own dwellings. 

" None need apply for admission to the Devoted 
Band but those who are prepared to take their lives 
in their hands, and who would indulge not the least 
expectation of ever returning. They dedicate their 
lives to the destruction of their enemies. All South- 
ern papers are requested to give this notice a few in- 
sertions. 

"A. s. B. D. B. 
" Richmond, July 24." 



\ 



ORDERS TO MOVE COUNTERMANDED. T6 

Such appeals as the above, constantly emanating 
from the Southern press, showed how thoroughly their 
leaders appreciated the nature of the crisis upon which 
they had entered. 

With us, there might have been an equal degree of 
resolution ; but there was far less excitement and heat, 
which made our Government less mindful of minute 
details, and more concerned, perhaps, about compre- 
hensive general plans. 

For some time, a growing dissatisfaction had existed 
regarding our connection with Col. Richardson's brig- 
ade. It originated from several trivial causes, not 
worth mentioning, but combined to create so strong 
a feeling, that efforts were finally made to secure a 
change of position. They were not without success. 
On the 9th, orders were received, early in the morn- 
ing, to strike the tents, pack every thing, load up the 
wagons, and betake ourselves to the vicinity of Bla- 
densburg, on the other side of the river, beyond the 
capital. The orders were obeyed with alacrity ; and 
the men had just gotten their tents all down, their 
knapsacks packed, and their company-teams about 
two-thirds loaded, when the orders were counter- 
manded. It was rumored that the enemy were ad- 
vancing, and would soon be upon us. There were no 
other troops in the neighborhood who could work the 
great guns at Fort Albany; so, for the present, we were 
delayed. Tents were repitched, knapsacks unpacked, 
wagons unloaded again ; and there was a general set- 
tling-down into the old places. But it did not last 
long. On the 13th, as the rebels did not make their 
appearance, the orders to move were again issued, and 
this time carried out. The command, accompanied 



74 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

by twenty-five iv agon-loads of baggage, left Fort Alba- 
ny at eight o'clock in the morning, marched over Long 
Bridge, and through Washington, to a pleasant knoll 
of ground, just this side of Bladensburg (ten miles in 
all), through a drenching rain, where a new camp was 
laid out, tents pitched, and the regiment regularly 
incorporated into Brig.-Gen. Hooker's brigade, com- 
posed then of the Eleventh Massachusetts, the Second 
New-Hampshire, the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, and 
the First Massachusetts Eegiments. 

An impression had arisen among the soldiers, in 
some way, that they were soon to be discharged. Sev- 
eral even refused to be sworn in by the mustering offi- 
cer. The impression remained at least six months, 
and was removed at last only by time. Important ap- 
pointments were made about this time to fill vacancies 
occasioned by resignation and death. 

George H. Smitli, of East Boston, was commissioned 
captain of Company B, in place of Edward Pearl, re- 
signed. Charles S. Kendall, of East Boston, was com- 
missioned first lieutenant, in place of George H. 
Smith, promoted; and Henry Parkinson was commis- 
sioned second lieutenant in place of Charles S. Ken- 
dall, promoted. Harry Gray, of Company B, having 
passed a successful examination, received the appoint- 
ment of medical cadet in the army, and was ordered 
to report out West. Joseph H. Dal ton, of the same 
company, was made quartermaster's sergeant. In 
Company F, George E. Henry was commissioned first 
lieutenant, and William P. Cowie, second, in place of 
George E. Henry, promoted. In Company G, Francis 
H. Ward was commissioned captain m place of Henry 
A. Snow, resigned ; and John McDonough second 



REVIEW BY GEN. HOOKER. 75 

lieutenant in place of William H. B. Smith, killed at 
Blackburn's Ford. In Company H, Horatio Roberts 
was commissioned first lieutenant in place of Albert 
S. Austin, made commissary of subsistence. In Com- 
pany I, Forrester A. Pelby was commissioned second 
lieutenant in place of Elijah B. Gill, jun., killed at 
the battle of Bull Bun. 

Early on the morning of August the 15th, the regi- 
ment, and every thing appertaining to it, was inspected 
by Gen. Hooker, who showed himself to be a thorough 
disciplinarian, a careful observer of every thing that 
went on, and a generous and friendly officer in all his 
intercourse with the men. 

Bladensburg, near which the brigade was encamped, 
had considerable historical repute, although, of itself, 
as to size and wealth, an inconsiderable place. Most 
of its inhabitants were loyal to the Union, although 
not so outspoken, on account of threats and insults 
from secessionists, as they would have been in New 
England. The place was famous for a fine spring 
whose waters were said to contain healing properties, 
and which was much resorted to from Washington and 
the neighboring places. The town and its vicinity had 
been the battle-ground between the American and 
British forces, in the conflict which resulted in placing 
Washington at the mercy of the latter. The English 
had three thousand men, all veterans ; the Americans 
eight thousand, all raw recruits, who, with the ex- 
ception of four hundred seamen under Capt. Barney, 
had never been in a fight. 

The conflict commenced about one o'clock, on the 
24th of August, 1814, and lasted over three hours. 
The militia broke and ran for their lives as soon as 



k 



t6 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

charged upon. Most of them did not fire a gun; and 
some ran so far on that afternoon, that it took them 
three days to get back again. Capt. Barney's seamen 
displayed more valor. His artillery kept up a galling 
fire upon the British lines, until he was flanked by su- 
perior numbers : eleven marines were killed by his 
side ; and he was wounded, and unable to stand. He 
then gave the order to retreat, and the British at once 
marched on to Washington. It may be interesting to 
read wliat an English officer, named Gleig, of the 
Eighty-fifth Royal Regiment, who was in this action, 
says of it. 

" The battle," he writes, " by which the fate of the 
American capital was decided, began about one o'clock 
in the afternoon, and lasted till four. The loss on the 
part of the Englisli (including those afterwards killed 
in Washington by accident and otherwise) was up- 
wards of five hundred men killed and wounded ; among 
whom were several officers of rank and distinction. 
On the American side, the slaughter was not so great. 
Being in possession of a strong position, they were, of 
course, less exposed in defending, than the others in 
storming it ; and, had they conducted themselves with 
coolness and resolution, it is not conceivable how the 
day could have been won. But the fact is, that with 
the exception of a party of sailors from the gunboats, 
under the command of Capt. Barney, no troops could 
behave worse. 

" The skirmishers were driven in as soon as attacked, 
the first line gave way without offering the slightest 
resistance, and the loft of the main body was broken 
within half an lioiir after it was seriously engaged. 
Of the sailors, liowcvcr, it would be injustice not to 



THE BATTLE AT BLADENSBURG. 77 

speak in the terms which their conduct merits. They 
were employed as gunners, and not only did they serve 
their guns with a quickness and precision which aston- 
ished their assailants ; but they stood their ground till 
some of them were actually bayoneted with fuzes in 
their hands. Nor was it until their leader was wound- 
ed and taken, and they saw themselves deserted on all 
sides by the militia, that they retreated." 

The battle-field is still pointed out to visitors ; and 
the Bladen sburgi an s are often not a little annoyed by 
some bantering quiz asking them the way to the 
American race-course of 1814. 

On account of an act of Congress passed in 1839, 
making duelling penal within the District of Columbia, 
and the offender liable to ten years' hard labor in the 
penitentiary, a secluded spot in Bladensburg was usu- 
ally resorted to by those intent upon redress of griev- 
ances by mortal combat. The first duel fought re- 
sulted in the death of Edward Hopkins, in 1814. 

In 1819, A. T. Mason, United-States Senator from 
Virginia, challenged John McCarty, his sister's hus- 
band. McCarty was averse to fighting, but Mason 
insisted ; and he named muskets as weapons, and the 
distance so near that their heads would hit if they 
both fell on their faces. The seconds changed this, 
and put them twelve feet apart. Mason was killed 
outright, and McCarty winged, SiS they term it; that 
is, his collar-bone was broken. 

Here Commodore Barron killed Commodore Deca- 
tur in 1820. At the first fire, both fell with their 
heads only ten feet apart. Supposing themselves mor- 
tally wounded, they both freely and fully forgave each 

7* 



78 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

other. Decatur at once expired ; but Barron recov- 
ered. 

In 1822, Gibson of the Treasury Department killed 
Midshipman Locke of the Navy. In 1833, Key and 
Shei'born exchanged shots, the first time without ef- 
fect. Sherborn then said, " Mr. Key, I have no desire 
to kill you." — " No matter," responded Key, " I came 
to kill you." — ^' Very well, then," said Sherborn, " I 
will kill you." When the word was given, he fulfilled 
his threat, and Key fell dead. In 1838, Graves of 
Kentucky, assuming J. W. Webb's quarrel with Cilley 
of Maine, met, and killed him on this spot. In 1845, 
Jones, a lawyer, fought with and killed Johnson, a 
doctor. In 1851, occurred the last duel thus far re- 
corded, between R. A. Hoole and A. J. Dallas. Dallas 
received a ball through the shoulder ; but the wound 
soon healed. Hoole was untouched. 

During the first night that the regiment passed on 
this spot, a soldier connected with the brigade, having 
disobeyed orders in visiting the town without a pass, 
was arrested, and, in attempting to escape from the 
guards having him in charge, shot dead. He was 
buried the next day, without any formality of military 
honor; not even a single volley being fired over his 
grave. 

The drills whicli had preceded the advance into 
Virginia were now renewed with increased industry. 
Every morning, before breakfast, the companies miglit 
be seen in various parts of the field, marching, coun- 
termarching, wheeling, double-quicking, going through 
the manual of arms, practising the bayonet exercise, 
<fec. ; and every officer was obliged to be up and dressed 



STRICT DISCIPLINE ENFORCED. 79 

at roll-call, which was immediately after reveille^ or be 
reported delinquent by the officer of the day. 

After breakfast came another drill, usually of the 
entire regiment, and another of the regiment or brig- 
ade at four in the afternoon. Dress-parade was at six 
o'clock ; always concluded with a short passage of 
Scripture, and prayer by the chaplain. 

No one was allowed to go from camp to camp, to 
visit Bladensburg, Washington, or the neighborhood, 
without written permission, signed by the colonel ; 
and at night no one could get round at all, without the 
regular countersign. The Washington and Baltimore 
Railroad, and the principal common roads of the 
country, were strictly guarded day and night, and no 
one allowed to pass or repass without compliance with 
the established regulations. Many persons were halted, 
and some arrested and carefully examined, before being 
allowed to proceed. Certain individuals were suffered 
to traffic in provisions, clothing, and sundries, on the 
highway ; and negroes from the neighboring farms and 
plantations came in on Sunday, the only time allowed 
them during the week, with baskets of fruit, eggs, 
chickens, vegetables, pies, and cake, which they were 
very glad to exchange for sugar, tea, coffee, hard- 
tack, and old clothes, when money was scarce. These 
poor creatures were always happy to see the soldiers, 
and seemed to have an instinctive conviction that they 
were going to do something for the benefit and eleva- 
tion of their race. Sometimes they were outrageously 
imposed upon, and sometimes turned out to be abom- 
inable cheats ; but to the former they had been all 
their lives accustomed, and, as to the latter, the major- 
ity had not been taught, and did not know any better. 



80 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

On the 20th of August, Gen. George B. McClellan 
assumed command of the Army of the Potomac, and 
on the 23d, with several members of his staff, reviewed 
Gen. Hooker's brigade. On the Sunday following, 
Aug. 25, it was again reviewed, by President Lincoln, 
Secretaries Seward and Welles, and other gentlemen 
connected with the Government at Washington. There 
was considerable curiosity throughout the ranks to see 
men of such prominence, although they had not be- 
come so famous then as they have since ; but these 
reviews were by no means popular, inasmuch as they 
were long, tedious, lacked spirit and action, and did 
not seem to* accomplish any thing, except to make a 
grand display. 

The camp at Bladensburg was named Camp Union ; 
and,duringtheentireperiodof our stay there, regiments 
of infantry and cavalry from all the loyal States, bat- 
teries of artillery, wagons, tents, ambulances, and 
other munitions of war, were carried by tlie camp daily, 
in the cars, on their way to the front. The fresh troops 
were always greeted with rounds of cheers. 

Twice, upon a rumor that the enemy were advan- 
cing, the long roll was beaten, and the brigade turned 
out to take up the Hue of march towards Wash- 
ington ; but the alarms proved false in each case. 
There was a general expectation of some movement 
in this direction for several weeks, and it was quite 
common for the men to startle each other with the 
announcement that the cars had arrived to take the 
regiment on board ; but they never came, and it is 
doubtful whether the change was ever contemplated. 

Monday, Aug. 26, ground was broken upon a lofty 
eminence at the right of Camp Union, for one of 



. PANIC IN BLADENSBURG. 81 

the cordon of forts siirrouiiding Washington. Men 
were detailed from the several companies to do fatigue- 
duty in throwing up the ramparts, levelling the ground, 
excavating the ditches, smoothing the glacis, and plant- 
ing the abatis. They were industriously occupied several 
days ; and, at the conclusion of their labors, the work 
was named Fort Lincoln, in honor of the President. 
At Camp Union, the troops practised frequently at tar- 
get-shooting ; and occasionally the brigade would turn 
out for volley firing. The first day this was done, it 
had an amusing effect upon the towns-people of Blad- 
ensburg; for, hearing the heavy reports of platoons, 
companies, and battalions, echoing through the woods, 
rolling over the hills, and reverberating among the val- 
leys, they supposed that the enemy had come at last, 
and we had gone to fighting in good earnest. Old men 
and women rushed out into the streets, listened a mo- 
ment, seized whatever was close at hand, and started 
off for the forest. Younger persons got their horses 
and cows together, and, driving them ahead, started 
after ; and for an hour or two the quiet old town was 
in a perfect panic of consternation and anxiety. 

Aug. 30th a flag-pole was erected in camp, close 
by the colonel's headquarters : the stars and stripes 
were hoisted to the top, and duly saluted by the assem- 
bled crowd. Adjutant William H. Lawrence, of East 
Boston, was promoted to be aide-de-camp to Gen. 
Hooker, with the rank of captain. That this promo- 
tion was well deserved has been proved since ; for the 
office has been held from that day to this, and the in- 
cumbent advanced from grade to grade, until he now 
holds the commission of brevet brigadier-general. 



I 



82 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Lieut. George H. Johnston, of Company E, was ap- 
pointed adjutant in place of Capt. Lawrence. 

Several men at this time were discharged for disabil- 
ity. The variation in temperature between day and 
niglit was found to be so great, and the night air to 
be so cold and penetrating, that none but the strongest 
constitutions could endure the exposure uninjured. 
Stout flannel was the only material proper for gar- 
ments, with woollen socks and thick woollen under- 
clothes. At least one-quarter of the sickness in our 
army at this time originated in night exposure, with- 
out sufficiently thick clothing. Because days were 
warm, thin attire was selected, and, when darkness 
came, instead of sleep there was a perpetual shiver. 

Lieut.-Gen. Scott's assertion, that sickness kills two 
where the bullet does one, is undoubtedly correct ; for, 
— not to mention intemperance, — improper diet, insuf- 
ficient clothing, unavoidable exposure, and culpable 
carelessness, are the prolific causes of disease, which no 
exhortations nor warnings could induce many of the 
men to guard against, and whose painful consequences 
the most skilful medical treatment cannot avert. It is 
strange, but no less true, that soldiers are prover- 
bially regardless of the preservation of their health. 
What may occasion the universal indifference on this 
point, is, perhaps, open to dispute, but, that it exists, no 
one who has lived among military men will deny. The 
French are far more particular in this respect than we 
are. Their men are never allowed to camp in insalu- 
brious localities if it can possibly be prevented ; and on 
a march, to see liis soldiers throw themselves upon 
the damp ground, covered with perspiration, would 
make a French captain furious. He has no intention 



DISTINGUISHED VISITORS. 83 

of adding to the list of his foes fever and ague, rheuma- 
tism, bowel-complaint, neuralgia, pleurisy, or consump- 
tion ; and no intention of seeing the hospital recruited 
at the expense of his reputation. In the items of food 
and clothing, great care is taken that the former shall 
be well selected and thoroughly cooked, the latter 
stro]ig, of good material, and well made. In our own 
army, the surgeons were seldom consulted regarding 
the propriety of camping in one locality or another, 
and far less frequently called to examine clothing or 
inspect food furnished by the several departments ; and, 
as a natural consequence, there was a vast amount of 
preventable suffering and sickness endured, and large 
numbers of men discharged for disability, or buried, 
whose lives and health, by the observance of proper 
precautions, might have been preserved. 

The proximity of Camp Union to Washington and 
Bladensburg made it a place of considerable resort for 
civilians ; and a large number availed themselves of the 
opportunity to come and pay the soldiers a visit. 
Accompanied by his honor Mayor Wightman, of Boston, 
Hon. Linus B. Comins made us a call on the after- 
noon of Sunday, Sept. 8th, Hon. Mr. Wright, of 
Bladensburg, being also one of the party. They ad- 
dressed the soldiers for a few minutes in a strain of 
patriotic earnestness, and were heartily applauded. 
About this time, Dr. Samuel H. Green, who had been 
assistant surgeon of the regiment since its organization, 
received the appointment of surgeon to the fourth bat- 
talion, and bade us farewell. He was succeeded by Dr. 
Francis LeBaron Monroe, who had already seen four 
months' service with the Boston Light Artillery, sta- 



84 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

tioned successively at Mount Clair, near Baltimore, at 
the Relay House, and at Annapolis. 

Camp-life at Bladen sburg was not without agreeable 
episodes, relieving the monotony of military routine, and 
giving both officers and men something to talk about 
and remember. On the 30th of August, a grand enter- 
tainment was given in honor of several young ladies 
living and visiting in the vicinity. Several tents were 
pitched together so as to make one long, open space for 
the tables. This was handsomely decorated with flags, 
and adorned v\dth flowers and bayonets, arranged in 
clusters representing stars, halos, &c. 

The bill of fare was elegantly gotten up on embossed 
paper, and read as follows : — 

Petit Souper en Bivouac. 

Compliment aux Demoiselles 

SMALL ET MATHIOT. 

Par les eremites de la 

PARKER HOUSE MESS. 

Service du Soir, 30 A out, 1861. 

POISSON. 

Sa union fume k la Gridiron. 
Vol-au-vent d'Anguilles en I^jtomac. 

PLATS FK0ID8. 

Jambon de Phipps en tranclies minces. 

Poitrine de Poulet. 

Cotelettes de Pore en Germantown. 

ENTREES. 

Salade do Poulet. 
Pasticcia, Maecaroni, Con Fegatelli. 



LOWER MARYLAND. 



85 



PATISSERIE ET CONFITURES. 



Gateau de Custard, Yankee. 

" " Pomme. 

" " Washington. 

" " Aux fruits. 

" " a i'Eponge. 

" " k rEscritore. 
Gnocchi fritti. 



Apricots sees de Damas. 

Figues. 

Raisins. 

Noix diverses. 



Marmelade de Pomme. 
Naranja Alembar. 
Gelatine de Yeau. 
Blancmange h I'Union. 
Confitures de Peches. 
" " Perses. 



FRUITS. 



Melones de Agua. 
Melones Cassabar. 
Peches. 



BOISSONS. 



The, Cafe, Chocolat. 
Lait au naturel. 



The following German couplet finished the bill : — 
Ehret die Frauen. Sie fletchten und weben. Hemm- 
lesche Rosen ins izdische Leben. 

The regimental band was present and performed 
choice airs, polkas, marches, &c., which, while the offi- 
cers and their guests enjoyed inside, the men improved 
outside by dancing on the ground. 

Reports had reached the military authorities in 
Washington, that in some parts of Lower Maryland 
parties were recruiting cavalry and infantry for the 
rebel army ; also that arms, uniforms, and other muni- 
tions of war were there concealed, and that a large 
amount of material affording aid and comfort to the 
enemy found its way through this region into the rebel 
lines. Rumor also asserted that forcible interference 
would be made at the approaching State election, so as 
to secure the return of the rebel ticket. It was therefore 

8 



86 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

deemed advisable to send a regiment or two of infantry, 
and a few hundred cavalry, so that the secession pro- 
clivities of tlie inhabitants might be held in salutary 
check. Orders were accordingly issued for the First 
Regiment to prepare five days' rations, and be in readi- 
ness to cross the Annacosta at six o'clock the next 
morning, Monday, Sept. 9. Long before daylight 
tlie order to turn out went round from tent to tent. 
Accoutrements were made ready, haversacks stuffed 
as full as possible, knapsacks packed and laid away ; 
and at six o'clock precisely, in light marching order, the 
line was formed, band playing, colors flying, and colonel 
at his post ready for a start. The march commenced 
shortly after, and continued, without opposition, through 
a semi-hostile country until night, when the soldiers 
bivouacked in an oak-grove, not far from tlie quaint 
old town of Marlborough. 

The earth was their bed, their canopy the sky ; and 
before morning a pretty smart shower reminded them 
that the windows were all open, or, in other words, that 
they were all out of doors. Marlborough, or " Upper 
Marlborough," as it is known in the gazetteers, is a 
post village situated on a branch of the Patuxent River, 
which runs into Chesapeake Bay. It is the capital of 
Prince George's County, twenty-three miles south- 
west of Annapolis, Md., and contains about one thou- 
sand inhal)itants. The river is navigable to the town, 
whicli gives it considerable commercial importance. 
It contains, besides a court house, jail, and church, 
some private residences, which indicate good taste and 
considerable wealth on the part of their occupants, but 
others which show plainly the contrary. 

The people were moderately disunion or non-com- 



LOWER MARYLAND. 87 

mittal in their sentiments, but emphatically desirous, 
like tlie arch-head of tlie Rebellion, to be let alone. No 
arms or uniforms were found among them, although 
several houses were searched from cellar to attic ; and 
the regiment moved on. Wliile crossing the Patuxent 
into Anne Arundel County, a scow, on which were 
several of the cavalry, capsized ; and, during the confu- 
sion which resulted from the accident, a lieutenant 
from Kentucky was drowned. 

The roads in this part of the country were wholly 
unwalled and unfenced passways right through the 
centre of plantations. The plantations themselves 
were divided from each other by fences, and the pass- 
ways closed by large gates swinging entirely across the 
road. Every mile or' so, in travelling over the country, 
one of these gates would be encountered ; and the 
occupant of a carriage would have to get in and out 
twenty times or more in course of a day's ride. The 
plantations varied greatly in size and appearance. 
Some were thrifty, well kept, and evidently profitable ; 
others looked barren, desolate, and forsaken. Wheat, 
rye, oats, and corn were growing, with acres and acres 
of tobacco. Huge barns appeared on nearly every 
plantation for drying and storing the weed ; and large 
quantities seemed to be on hand, waiting probably for 
a rise in prices. Stock was quite abundant, especially 
pigs ; and the colored people were more numerous 
than the. whites. 

It came in my way to see considerable of these col- 
ored people, two-thirds of whom were slaves, and, feel- 
ing curious to ascertain their actual condition, to ply 
them with numerous questions. They were not very 



88 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

communicative until questioned, but answered readily 
enough if addressed kindly. 

One morning, having lost my way, I called at a ne- 
gro hut and hired a colored man to pilot me to the 
road I sought. As we proceeded I asked him, — 

" Are you a slave ? " 

''Yes, sar." 

" To whom do you belong ? " 

" Massa Simson." 

>' How long have you been a slave ? " 

" Ever since Ise born." 

" Are you married ? " 

" Yes, sar." 

" Is your wife a slave ? " 

" No, sar. 

''■ Are you not afraid they will sell you away from 
your wife ? " 

" Nobody'll buy me." (He was old and quite 
lame.) 

" How much are you worth ? " 

" 'Bout six hundred dollars." 

" Why does not your wife work and buy you ? " 

" She's tryin'." 

" Should you like to be free? " 

" Reckon I should." 

" What would you do? come North ? " 

" Reckon not." 

"Why not?" 

" Couldn't get along ; rather stay here." 

" Is your master for the Union ? " 

" No ; lie's scccsh, I reckon." 

" Are there many seccsh in this country ?" 

" Yes; a right smart lot." 



CONVERSATIOX WITH A SLAVE. 89 

"Do they tell you they are going to beat? " 

" Yes (with a grin) ; always say that." 

" How many slaves has your master got ? " 

" 'Bout thirty field-hands." 

" Would they like to be free ? " 

" Reckon they would." 

" Is he good to them ? " 

" Mostly, but have to work hard, sometimes Sun- 
day." (Sunday is the negro holiday.) 

" Well, you may rest assured and tell them so, that 
it will not be many years before you will all be free, 
and can go wherever, and do whatever, you please that 
is lawful." 

He turned suddenly, as if to answer me, but just 
then we heard a voice shouting from a door-yard on 
the left, " Halloo, Pete ! you, Pete, there ! whar you 
goin' ? " 

" Goin' to show this gemman the road, massa." 
'^ Massa Simson," said he to me aside. 

" Well, come right back," said Massa Simson 
somewhat anxiously, beginning to feel already, no 
doubt, that human chattels were a very slippery species 
of property. 

" Yes, massa." 

He soon put me right, pulled his wool as I paid him, 
and said in parting, with an expression of incredulous 
sadness on his dusky features, — 

" I hopes all you've told me'll come true one o' 
these days." 

The extravagant fondness of these people for line 
clothes and trinkets was very amusing. Bright-colored 
handkerchiefs, jewelry, ribbons, expensive dress-fab- 

8* 



90 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

rics, tSrc, called forth rapturous expressions of ap- 
proval and enjoyment. 

One man followed me over a mile to feast his eyes 
upon a new pair of doeskin pants, wiiich had just ar- 
rived from Boston. He asked if he might feel of 
them, and rubbed his great hand over the nap as rev- 
erently as though it were sacred. 

" Baltimore cloth ? " he asked. 

" No ; Boston cloth, Yankee cloth : nothing in Bal- 
timore like it." 

He looked disappointed. Baltimore was evidently 
his " hub ; " Boston was mine. Seeing he was breaking 
the tenth commandment in a marked and perceptible 
manner, I left him. 

While in Lower Maryland, the regiment visited sev- 
eral places, such as Bristol, Smithville, Nottingham, 
Friendship, Lower Marlborough, and Prince Frederick- 
town, finding sabres, swords, revolvers, muskets, rifles, 
uniforms, and one rebel flag. 

All these things had been carefully concealed by 
their owners ; and in one instance two boxes were 
dug up from graves said to contain the remains of sol- 
diers shot in the battle of Bull Run. The searchers 
after this contraband property were obliged to rely 
mainly upon information derived from negroes. They 
had observed where every thing was hidden away or 
buried in the ground by their masters, and it did not 
require much coaxing to induce them to point out the 
localities. 

They greeted our coming among them with almost 
unconcealed delight, and were of the greatest possible 
service in affording information as to roads, the names 
and character of residents in the county, and the- 



BARBARISM OF SLAVERY. 91 

measures that had been taken, previous to our arrival, 
to recruit a company of cavahy and another of infantry 
from the neighborhood. At the same time they caused 
us no shght embarrassment ; for several of them, hav- 
ing improved the opportunity of our presence to steal 
away from their old plantation homesteads, and join their 
fortunes with ours, they were followed by their former 
masters ; and as public opinion had not advanced then 
to where it stood subsequently, after some dodghig, 
chasing, and shifting they were given up, and carried 
home again. One man came into the camp at 
Lower Marlborough, having on his neck an iron yoke 
with prongs a foot in length, and weighing five or eight 
pounds. It was filed off by the men, and sent North 
as- a relic of the barbarism of slavery. The slave 
hoped to remain among us and be free ; but his master, 
professing to be a good Union man, armed with a Uni- 
ted-States warrant, and accompanied by the provost- 
marshal of the district, arrived, and we were obliged 
to give him up. 

After a furious rain in the night, near Lower Marl- 
borough, during which the men were lying on top of a 
hill, with neither trees, houses, nor barns in the vicin- 
ity for shelter, so that they became dripping wet, and 
the water stood in puddles, or ran in streams under 
them, some efforts were made to obtain their tents ; and 
one morning they were all packed, and transported 
nearly to the camping-ground. But they were ordered 
back again, and in the woods shanties were constructed 
of boughs and bark instead. 

Great ingenuity was displayed in the erection of 
these frail habitations ; and, as they frequently caught 
fire and went oif almost like a flash of gunpowder, 



92 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

they afforded to occupants and observers constant 
sport and excitement. The cry of "Fire" rang 
through the woods nearly every day or night ; and, in 
mimic imitation of a fire at home, the various city 
engines would be called out, and told to " play away " 
or " hold on," while the " unfortunate families," 
burned out of house and home, were provided with 
temporary accommodations elsewhere. 

Prince Fredericktown, situated on Parker's Creek, 
which flows into Chesapeake Bay, proved to be the 
southernmost limit of the regiment's researches. Tliis 
place is a post-village of about six hundred inhabi- 
tants, the capital of Calvert County, forty-six miles 
from Annapolis, and contains, besides several stores, 
a court house, jail, and church. It had been in open 
revolt against the authority of tlie United States, was 
the headquarters of a force of cavalry and infantry 
recruited for the rebel army, and had allowed the 
stars and bars to float above the Court House in place 
of the true flag. 

The principal inhabitants, feeling guilty, no doubt, 
and fearing what miglit be the consequences of their 
misdeeds, had taken themselves off previous to our ar- 
rival. In course of a day or two, some of them began 
to return, seeming astonished and delighted to find 
that their habitations had not been destroyed nor their 
friends molested. Emboldened by such clemency, they 
entered into conversation with the soldiers, and in a 
short time were on most amicable terms. One declared 
that he should like to stay a week with us, to talk and 
hear the music. Another humorously said he wished 
we would go soon, for he could not get away from us 
to do his own work. For some time it was impossible 



THE RAMROD GUARDS. 93 

to find the secession flag. It had been ascertained 
that it was hauled down at our approach, and con- 
cealed in a certain field ; and at last one of the compa- 
nies, by thrusting down their ramrods wherever the 
earth had been freshly disturbed, discovered its hiding- 
place, and brought it forth to the light. This company 
was afterwards known as tlie Ramrod Guards. 

In this vicinity, nearly a wagon-load of mviskets, 
sabres, revolvers, uniforms, <fec., were found stowed 
away under haystacks, hidden in closets, between 
floors, in cellars and garrets, and buried under ground. 
Two Union prisoners were also released, and a rebel 
jailer shut up in one of his own cells. Our band was 
very popular, and all classes flocked to hear the music. 
At dress-parade and guard-mounting, they gathered 
about the regiment, and obtained, undoubtedly, new 
ideas of Yankee drill and discipline thereby. As 
there were Union people in the place, they were made 
the objects of especial attention. The band honored 
them with serenades, and they were invited to visit 
the camp. Several gentlemen called, and expressed 
themselves favorably regarding the appearance and 
conduct of the men. 

Greatly in contrast was the course of a notoriously 
proslavery sheet published in the neighborhood, which 
did not hesitate to put in circulation the most outra- 
geous lies concerning the troops, warning colored peo- 
ple in one article to beware of the Union soldiers, as 
they already had shot one poor African, and literally 
cut another in two ; and contemptuously remarking in 
another issue, that the United-States Government were 
certainly engaged in a creditable undertaking, sending 
a large body of armed men to take from an inoffensive 



94 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS liEGUIENT. 

community a few cross-bows and pop-guns. It was 
plain enough where tlie editor's sympathies lay, and 
that lie only spoke out what his patrons inwardly ap- 
proved, but had the art or good sense to conceal. 

A serious accident happened at this time to William 
Holmes, of Company E, by which he became crippled 
for life. He was standing in front of a house, talking 
with the owner, having his hand over the muzzle of his 
gun, when he attempted to get something off the ham- 
mer, having previously removed the cap ; but some of 
the percussion-powder remained, and, when the ham- 
mer came down, it ignited the charge, sending both 
tompion and ball through his hands. 

He was carried at once to the hospital, and every 
exertion made to save his hands, but in vain ; one was 
amputated close by the wrist, and he was discharged 
the service. 

Monday, Oct. 7, nothing remaining to be done in 
Lower Maryland, the regiment was ordered to report 
at Camp Union, where they arrived about noon, having 
been absent just twenty-eight days, travelled two hun- 
dred and seventy-two miles, and thoroughly accom- 
plished the object for which they set out. 

Thursday, the 26th of September, which was Na- 
tional Fast Day, by command of Gen. Hooker, services 
were held in the brigade, at which nearly three thou- 
sand men assembled. Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. 
Parker of the New-Hampshire Second, the hymns read 
by Rev. Mr. Beck of the Pennsylvania Twenty-sixth, 
the Scriptures by Rev. Mr. Watson of the Massa- 
chusetts Eleventh, and the discourse delivered by the 
chaplain of the Massachusetts First. Gen. McClcllan 
having decided to arrange the Army of the Potomac 



PROMOTION h. 95 

in separate columns or divisions, forming, as it were, so 
many separate armies, and necessitating the appoint- 
ment of a major-general for each division, the Excel- 
sior brigade, New-Jersey brigade, and our own brigade, 
were made into a division. Gen. Hooker was commis- 
sioned major-general, and given the command ; and 
Col. Cowdin, as senior colonel, was placed in com- 
mand of the first brigade. 

On the evening of Oct. 14, after dress-parade, the 
orders detaching him from the regiment were read, 
and he made a brief parting address to the men. They 
were not a little affected by his words, and he carried 
their best wishes with him into his new and important 
position. Adjutant Johnson became his adjutant-gen- 
eral and chief of staff. Lieut.-Col. Wells took com- 
mand of the regiment, and Lieut. Joseph Hibbert, 
jun.,was made adjutant. 





CHAPTER lY. 



CAMP HOOKER. BUDD'S FERRY. 

Southward lio ! How the grand old war-cry- 
Thunders over our land to-day ! 

Rolling down from the Eastern mountain, 
Dying into the West away. 

Southward ho ! Bear on the watchword ! 

Onward march as in ancient days, 
Till over the traitor's fallen fortress 

The stripes shall stream, and the stars shall blaze ! 



By the ruddy light of our camp-fires bright. 

Which blazed in the trench before us. 
We sat and sang till the wild woods rang 

With the echo of our chorus. 

Beyond the stream, we could see the gleam 

Of the fires that the foe had lighted; 
And here and there in the flickering glare, 

Their forms we dimly sighted." — Anon. 

DURING the fall of 1861, it became desirable to 
the rebels to cut off Wasliingtoii from water 
commuuicatioii with Chesapeake Bay and the seaboard 
generally ; and for that purpose several batteries were 
erected along the southern bank of the Potomac^ in the 
vicinity of Dumfries and Aquia Creek, which fired on 
every passing vessel, making the navigation of the 
river seem to be extremely hazardous, if not impossible. 
They had also seized upon and armed a small trans- 



BUDD'S FESRY. 97 

port steamer called the " George Pago," which was 
located behind a point of land in Quantico Creek ; and 
it was feared they might endeavor to establish them- 
selves on both sides the river. To anticipate this, 
Gen. Hooker's division was ordered to occupy the op- 
posite bank. 

On the 24th of October, therefore, the regiment broke 
camp at Bladensburg, having been there and in Lower 
Maryland seventy-two days, and commenced the march 
towards Budd's Ferry. The first night they encamped 
directly opposite Alexandria, having marched about 
twelve miles during the day. The second day they 
proceeded as far as Piscataqua, a small village about 
twenty-two miles below Washington. It having been 
ascertained that the steamboat " Page" was getting trou- 
blesome, and troops were needed to watch her move- 
ments, on the next day the regiment was pushed 
through to Posey's Plantation, directly opposite Quan- 
tico Creek, — a distance of twenty-three miles. It was 
an excessively hard march, as the roads were muddy in 
places, and the men were loaded down with their knap- 
sacks. They arrived about eight o'clock in the evening 
of Saturday the 26th, and at once threw themselves down 
behind their stacks, where they slept soundly all night. 
C The country from Washington down was pleasant, 
yet uninviting. It was heavily wooded, well watered, 
and fertile ; but everywhere were evident the traces 
of the peculiar institution, whose bane and blight 
rested alike upon soil and people. The roads were 
hilly, stony, sandy, muddy, stumpy, and good, by 
turns, the good by no means predominating ; the fences, 
barns, and most of the houses, rude and primitive, and 

the people unenlightened and semi-disloyal. ( 
9 ^ 



98 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Besides Gen. Hooker's division, one regiment of 
cavalry and three batteries of artillery were quartered 
in the vicinity, making over ten thousand men, who 
occupied ten ditforent camps, scattered all along the 
road from Port Tobacco, which is opposite Aquia Creek, 
to within about twenty-five miles of Washington. The 
camps were located from two to six miles apart, having 
pickets out, which communicated readily from camp to 
camp ; and the whole force could have been concen- 
trated on any one point much sooner than the rebels 
could have crossed the river, had they been inclined 
to undertake it. 

The rebels had thrown up earthworks on Shipping 
Point, Cockpit Point, and along the right bank of 
the river fronting Evansport, upon which were mounted 
heavy guns, one being a superb English Blakely rifled 
piece, throwing an elongated shell weighing one hun- 
dred and twenty pounds. High hills on the Maryland 
side afforded the troops an excellent observatory where- 
from to watch the firing ; and, as the rebels seemed to 
have plenty of powder and ball to expend, twenty-four 
hours seldom passed but they afforded observers an op- 
portunity to see what miserable marksmen they were. 

Tlie blockade continued nearly five months, and in 
all that time not half a dozen vessels were struck, al- 
though, when the wind was favorable, they passed 
daily. The pickets along the river bank, and upon a 
point of land beyond the Chickamoxen Creek, called 
Stump Neck, were much exposed ; but in various ways 
they managed to sliield themselves from the enemy's 
fire, so that only one was injured during the whole 
period of our stay, and he not seriously. 

Before the regiment had left Bladensburg, a call was 



THE CUMSTON CHAPEL TENT. 99 



1 

l^^iade for a chapel tent large enougli to shelter wor- 
^Rhippers during the Sabbath or evening services. 
\^ The call was responded to by William Ciimston, 
Esq., of the firm of Hallet & Ciimston, pianoforte 
makers, Boston, who forwarded a capacious tent, fur- 
nished at his own cost, which was dedicated, and 
named, in honor of his liberality, the " Cumston 
Tent." 

The division had been encamped but a short time, 
before telegraphic communication was establislied with 
army headquarters, and a balloon sent up, under the 
supervision of Prof. Lowe, to take aerial surveys of 
the rebel position. The telegrapli was constructed 
within a week after our settlement at Budd's Ferry, 
reaching to the headquarters of Gen. Hooker, and 
bringing him into communication witli Gen. McClellan 
as near as though they were seated side by side. Thus 
the one mind that then commanded the armies of the 
Union flashed instantaneously north-west and south- 
east along a line of battle seventy miles in extent, and 
controlled the movements of over two hundred thou- 
sand men as easily as a lady directs her servant about 
matters in the same house or room. 

The balloon was one of the largest size, with a hand- 
somely-painted portrait of Washington on the side, 
and capable of taking up two or three men at once. 
It was kept constantly filled, and, when raised a thou- 
sand feet or so, gave the aeronaut an uninterrupted 
survey of the enemy's positions, batteries, regiments, 
motions, forces, and, in fine, every thing a commander 
desired to know. Powerful glasses were taken up 
with the balloon, which showed the style of fortifica- 



I 



100 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

tions, tlie caliber of guns, and the locality of camps 
four and five miles off. 

Quite a respectable flotilla of open row-boats was 
accumulated by the men soon after their arrival, one of 
which would accommodate thirty mdividuals. Rowing 
on the river was rather risky, especially if the boat 
was laden, for the enemy, needing practice, always im- 
proved such an opportunity to obtain it. Their solid 
shot and shells went over, under, and on either side of, 
our brave boys repeatedly, but none ever struck them. 

Thursday afternoon, the 14th of November, a dar- 
ing attempt was made by the rebels to burn a wood 
schooner which had just come down from-Washington, 
and lay anchored about half a mile from the Maryland 
shore, without crew. 

About fifteen of the enemy came off, imder cover of 
their l^atteries, in a large boat, from the Virginia bank ; 
and as many more followed in another. Immediately 
our entire brigade was in commotion, the assembly was 
beaten, two pieces of cannon started off, a cavalry 
troop, several companies, and various individuals con- 
nected with the army, rushed for the river side, and 
parts of several companies of the Massachusetts First 
embarked in their flotilla, and rowed for the rebels. 
It was a most exciting chase. The batteries on the 
Virginia shore thundered defiance to our eager forces, 
and sent shot and shell after and among our boats. 
The rebels had so much the start, that they reached 
the scliooner first, however, set her on fire, and dashed 
off before our men came up ; but the fire was speedily 
extinguislied when tliey arrived, and our guns, now on 
the bank, at once silenced those of the other side. It 
was an act full of Southern dash, but all ended in 



FIRE IN THE CAMP. 101 

smoke, and probably taught the foe that two could play 
at any game they might start. 

Friday, the 15tli, at night, one whole company were 
rendered houseless by their frail shanty's taking fire 
from a stove-pipe. It was constructed of boughs, rails, 
and poles, thatched with straw, and as combustible as 
shavings. Nearly everybody was asleep when it caught j 
so that a few seconds elapsed before any attempt was 
made for its extinguishment, and then it was altogether 
too late. Indeed, so rapid was the conflagration, that 
several soldiers lost their guns and knapsacks. In five 
minutes, nothing remained of their former tenement 
but a few rails, embers, and ashes ; and seventy men 
were turned out of their warm nests into the wet and 
cold. The usual fire and steam engines were present, 
of course (about every number in Boston, Roxbury, 
Charlestown, and Chelsea being represented), and the 
usual extras were issued containing a list of those 
burned to death, &c. ; but nobody was hurt or singed, 
and, after a good laugh all round, the houseless un- 
fortunates crept in here and there, leaving sleep once 
more supreme. 

During the quiet moonlight nights, or when the air 
was calm and the wind favorable, hi the daytime, the 
pickets on either side of the river would occasionally 
beguile the time by banter and mockery. The rebels 
were very fond of asking, " How's Bull Hun ? " or 
" How's Ball's Bluff? " To which our men would 
respond, '' How's Laurel Hill ? " " How's Rich Moun- 
tain ? " or " How's Fort Hatteras ? " As the conver- 
sation grew more animated, it became less choice, and 
generally ended by one party's telling the other to go 
to — — a certain hot place where the society is not 

9* 



1U2 THE FIBST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

very choice, and the sensations of its occupants reputed 
to be far from agreeable. 

Two expeditions were formed while the regiment 
was stationed at Budd's Ferry, — one composed mainly 
of soldiers from the Eleventh Regiment under the 
command of Lieut.-Col. Tileston, and another under 
Capt. George H. Smith, of Company B, of the First 
Regiment, — to cut out a vessel down the Potomac 
River, loaded with articles contraband of war. Both 
expeditions turned out successfully, resulting in no 
loss of life or limb. 

As soon as the troops were established upon the 
river bank, a small battery, mounting two rifled Par- 
rott guns, was erected close by the house formerly oc- 
cupied by Mrs. Budd, whose family had once controlled 
the ferry plying between this place and Evansport. 
Whenever the rebel batteries would open upon any 
passing vessel, these two guns would open upon them, 
and, thus partially or wholly diverting their fire, cause 
quite a lively artillery duel, which sometimes lasted 
for hours. Tlio " George Page " was also struck by 
our gunners, and on this account anchored oiit of 
sight, behind a projecting bank. 

For several weeks previous to the setting-in of win- 
ter weather, rumors had been rife that our division was 
liable to Ijc ordered to Charleston, or somewhere else 
farther south ; and on this account the troops delayed 
preparing their winter-quarters at Budd's Ferry. But 
as tlie days grew shorter, and the weather wet, or cold 
and blustering, tlie necessity of more thorough protec- 
tion was felt, aiul preparations made accordingly. 
Long log-huts were put up by tlie companies, which 
were uniform, spacious, comfortable, and the best 



THANKSGIVING DAY IN CAMP. 103 

quarters they ever had, excepting those at Camp Cam- 
eron. Smaller structures were erected for the officers ; 
and all of these, being furnished with large open fire- 
places, and plentifully plastered with the adhesive 
mud, were made warm, snug, and cosey enough for 
anybody's lodging-place. The camp at Budd's Ferry 
had been named, in honor of our major-general, 
'' Camp Hooker." 

Thanksgiving Day was not allowed to pass without 
due recognition and observance. The following gene- 
ral order, by Lieut.-Col. Wells, is inserted as a me- 
mento of that excellent officer, who, after serving as 
colonel of the Thirty-fourth Massachusetts Regiment, 
and receiving the commission of brigadier-general, for 
gallantry in action, lost his life at the battle of Cedar 
Creek, in the Yalley of the Shenandoah : — 

" Headquarters First Regiment Mass. Volunteers, ) 
" Camp Hooker, Nov. 20, 1861. j 

" General Orders^ No. — 

"The twenty-first day of November is set apart by 
the Governor of Massachusetts as a day of public 
thanksgiving and praise. By a special order, he asks 
our participation in this time-honored festival. Those 
who have looked death in the face, and have not felt 
his sting, may well unite their voices with those of the 
loved ones at home. It is fitting that the Potomac 
should vibrate with the same feeling which quivers on 
the Connecticut and Merrimac, and along the Old Bay 
shore. To-morrow will be observed as a day of thanks- 
giving and praise. The general orders of the day will 
be suspended, and the following substituted : — 

" While the day is to be one of thanksgiving and en- 
joyment, the lieutenant-colonel commanding believes 



104 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

tliat he may trust his command that no instance of ex- 
cess or improper conduct mars the day. Remember 
tliat one man may tarnish the character of a company 
or regiment ; one indiscretion make the occasion one 
not of pride, but of mortification and regret." 

Wednesday morning, the 20th of November, brought 
with it to camp most welcome visitors, in the persons 
of Mayor Fay, Rev. Mr. Mason, Messrs. Sawyer and 
Jones, from Chelsea, with all sorts of Thanksgiving 
comforts for the company recruited from that place. 
Their thoughtful and opportune generosity was most 
gratefully appreciated. 

Thursday was one of the finest days of the season. 
At half-past ten, the line was formed, every man of the 
regiment, except the sick ones, behig in place ; and, 
after the religious services, Rev. Mr. Mason was first 
called upon, who assured the regiment that they had 
not been forgotten, nor would be, by friends at home ; 
that hardly a Thanksgiving sermon would be preached, 
or dinner eaten, where they would not be remembered 
and spoken of. Mayor Fay followed with a brief ex- 
pression of his interest in the entire regiment, espe- 
cially the company (H) whose homes and friends were 
in Chelsea. Col. Cowdin succeeded Mayor Fay, and 
in one of his fervent, characteristic speeches, wound 
the men up to such a pitch of patriotic enthusiasm, 
that they gave him three hearty cheers. 

Col. Wells concluded with a few pertinent reflec- 
tions, freighted with feeling so tender and remeuT- 
l)rances so moving, that tears flowed down more than 
one bearded cheek. 

After the speaking came an unexpected mail, and a 



THANKSGIVING DAY IN CAMP. 105 

large number of boxes by express from private hands, 
among them one from the East-Boston Unitarian 
Society, containing nearly an hundred dollars' worth 
of stockings, suspenders, towels, mittens, &c., much 
needed and most acceptable. They were eagerly ap- 
propriated, and did great good. Some fun preceded 
dinner, during which a couple of greased pigs were 
the principal suiferers ; and then the great meal of the 
year was participated in by the different companies 
with a gusto heightened by the novelty of its serving- 
up, and very few were the Massachusetts tables spread 
with food greater in abundance or variety. 

The line officers, — captains and lieutenants in com- 
panies, — gave a fine entertainment to Major-Gen. 
Hooker, acting Brig.-Gen. Cowdin, Col. Wells, and their 
staffs, in the evening. After the viands had been dis- 
posed of, speeches, full of patriotic allusions to Massa- 
chusetts, and devoted loyalty to the Union cause, were 
made by various members of the party, in which loved 
ones ai home were not forgotten ; and, about eight 
o'clock, the pleasant entertainment came to an end. 

While in camp at Budd's Ferry, not only were the 
physical and spiritual wants of the command carefully 
attended to, but their moral and intellectual ones also. 
As intemperance is a vice to which armies are pecu- 
liarly exposed, before the regiment had been settled a 
month at Camp Hooker, a temperance society was 
formed, and named, in honor of its former colonel, 
who was a firm, devoted friend of the temperance 
cause, and between whose lips, amid all the tempta- 
tions of military experience, never passed a drop of 
intoxicating liquor, " The Cowdin Temperance Socie- 
ty." Sergeant Frederic E. Dolbeare, Company A, was 



106 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

chosen president; Sergeant William Gibson, Company 
A, vice-president ; Private L. Edward Jenkins, Com- 
pany B, secretary ; and one man selected from each 
company to canvass the regiment, and ascertain the 
exact position and feelings of every man in relation 
to the temperance cause. Lectures, recitations, ad- 
dresses, debates, and music constituted the leading 
features of the meetings, which were held once a 
week. The pledge was as follows : — 

" We do solemnly swear that we will neither make, 
buy, sell, nor use as a beverage, any alcoholic or malt 
liquors, wine, or cider." Before the camp was broken 
up in April, 1862, nearly two hundred men had en- 
rolled themselves members of this society ; and fully 
one-third of tlic regiment were strictly total abstinence 
men. 

A society for intellectual improvement, named, in 
honor of Hon. Frank B. Fay, the Mayor of Chelsea, 
Mass., and one of the most generous, devoted, and 
self-sacrificing friends to the soldier the war has pro- 
duced, " Tlie Fay Literary Listitute," was also es- 
tablished, holding its meetings weekly. Corporal 
Joseph T. Wilson, Company B, was chosen president, 
with ten vice-presidents, one from each company ; 
John A. Beyer, Company B, secretary ; Hiram A. 
Wright, Company D, treasurer; and a standing com- 
mittee of five to regulate proceedings, and furnish 
entertainments. The exercises consisted of lectures, 
addresses, debates, concerts, dialogues, and recitations, 
and were always largely attended, sometimes crowded. 
Under the management of the Listitute was a well- 
selected miscellaneous library, principally collected 
and forwarded to Budd's Ferry through the exertions 



THE CHURCH OF THE FIRST REGIMENT. 107 

of James M. Barnard, Esq., of Boston, a gentleman 
signally devoted to the Union cause and the welfare 
of its brave defenders, then and ever since. A chess 
club, called ''The Massachusetts First Chess Club," 
was also formed, of which William Emerson, Com- 
pany A, was president; E. G. Tutein, Company H, 
vice-president ; and J. A. Lakin, Company E, secretary. 
Their meetings for chess and other games were held 
once a week. 

In order that professed followers of the Lord Jesus 
Christ miglit have the privilege of meeting around 
his table at least once a month, a church was likewise 
formed, and called " The Church of the First Regi- 
ment." It was anticipated that there might be some 
difficulty in framing a " Confession of Faith " and 
" Covenant," in which all denominations would coin- 
cide ; but the following were adopted with entire una- 
nimity : and from twenty to thirty members of at least 
ten different sects of Christians met and communed 
together repeatedly, in the most cordial and brotherly 
manner. 

"• Confession of Faith. — You believe in God, as 
the Creator of all things, to whom you are responsible 
for all the deeds done in the body. 

" You believe in Jesus Clirist, as the only-begotten 
of the Father, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the 
Godhead bodily. 

" You believe in the Holy Spirit, as the Enlightener, 
Regenerator, and Sanctifier of his people. 

'' You believe in the immortality of the soul, in the 
resurrection of the body, and in future rewards and 
punishments." 



108 THE FIEST MASSACHUSETTS BEGIMENT. 

" Covenant. — You now solemnly covenant, in the 
presence of God and these your fellow-soldiers, that 
you will endeavor, by the help of grace, to walk in all 
the ordinances of the gospel blameless, adorning your 
Christian profession by a holy life and a godly conver- 
sation." 

A brigade hospital having become essential for the 
treatment of those too seriously indisposed to remain 
at either of the regimental hospitals, one was estab- 
lished in the Dunnington House, included within the 
limits of Camp Hooker, and placed under the charge 
of Dr. John Foye, assistant surgeon of the Massachu- 
setts Eleventh. 

Runaway slaves often found their way into the 
camp ; and the following story of one, taken down by 
Dr. Richard H. Salter, the surgeon of the regiment, 
affords an illustration of how they fared in Maryland, 
and how they felt about it. 

The man said he was fifty-seven years old, that he 
was still a slave, but had left his master, who resided 
somewhere in Maryland, about five months before, and 
that he greatly preferred the freedom he now enjoyed 
to his former bondage. His master had been very un- 
just and unkind in liis treatment of him and his family, 
he thought ; that he liad a wife, who had blessed him with 
fifteen children, twelve of whom were still living; and ' 
that liis present master was not his first and original 
one, but that his family had been scattered about 
among various masters, who had bought his children 
as inclination or necessity prompted, and carried them 
off to various i)arts of the State. He thought it w^as 
very hard that his children should be sold separately 



UNFEELING SLAVE-OWNER. 109 

and torn from him, but harder than all that his pres- 
ent master should have parted him from his wife and 
the three youngest children, only three, five, and seven 
years old. 

He stated that his wife had formerly been in a 
feeble state of health ; and that his master, who then 
owned him, her, and the three remaining children, be- 
ing too close or heartless to procure medical aid for 
her benefit, and fearing she would die on his hands, 
and cause a dead loss, had resolved to sell her. She 
was an excellent /«oz/5e-hand, he said, could sew, knit, 
mend, wash, bake, and do any kind of house-s^ovk ; but 
his master wanted aj^e/G?-hand, so they were separated ; 
and she with her children were taken off seventeen 
miles, to within three or four miles of Fort Washing- 
ton, on the Potomac. He further stated that her pres- 
ent master was very kind to her, employed the best of 
medical attendance, and she had become able to do 
" j^e/<i-work " with others. He was allowed by his 
present master to visit her but once a month, and then 
must go on foot after work was over Saturday night, 
and return before it commenced Monday morning. 

His master owned several horses, standing idle in 
the stable, but he was never allowed to use one for 
himself ; and sometimes the weather or roads were so 
bad, that he could not reach his wife till daylight Sun- 
day morning, and then had to leave her at sundown 
Sunday night. She was always up waiting for him, 
when he came, however ; and many were the tears they 
shed, the poor fellow stated, when they had to part so 
soon again. During the other Sabbaths of the month, 
he was not allowed the day, as most other slaves are, 
but had to work. 

10 



no THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS BEGIMENT. 

He said that, on several occasions, when about to 
start off to see his wife, his master would say, " Well, 
George,! suppose your wife '11 die soon ; then you can 
get another in our immediate neighborhood, and thus 
be saved those long tramps you take now, as well as 
visit your new wife oftener." — " Think of it, doctor," 
he said, " that the man could be so cruel. What a 
heart he must suppose me to have, that I could be 
glad to lose my wife, who had borne me fifteen chil- 
dren, and whom I loved with my whole heart; to 
have her die, that I might marry again, because it 
would be more convenient to have another wife near 
at hand ! What an idea, that I could, in a moment, put 
away all my affection for my wife, or give it to another 
with the same indifference that he could sell her and 
her children I 

'' 0, doctor I if you knew all the hardships of us poor 
colored people, you would pity us indeed. And now, if 
I could only have my wife and children, and we be 
clear of our masters, I should be a happy man again. 
Can't you," he said, — " can't you help me ? If a few 
of yonr soldiers could go with me and help me some 
dark night, I could direct them to the very room in 
which my wife sleeps. When night comes, I can't sit 
down as you gentlemen can, and read; but my mind 
goes off to my wife and children, and I drop many a 
tear on their account." 

The man remained with us nearly a year, and finally 
betook himself to Alexandria, Va., where he was joined 
by his wife, and set up housekeeping on his own ac- 
count. 

Along the rebel lines, where it was possible for our 
roops to visit, both in Maryland and Virginia, was 



BEREAVED SOUTHERN LADIES. Ill 

found an incomprehensible number of widows ; and the 
following conversation with Widow Baron will serve as 
a specimen of frequent talks held bj our soldiers with 
females in a like situation : — 

'' Good-morning, ma'am I " 

" Good-morning ! " 

" Who lives in this house ? " 

"I do." 

" What may be your name ? " 

" They call me the Widow Baron." 

" Oh ! you're a widow ; good many widows round 
here ? " 

"Yes." 

" U^ed to be very sickly, I suppose." 

"No — yes : I suppose it was." 

" Where are the men who used to be about here ? " 

*' Gone away" (after some hesitation). 

" Are they in the rebel army ? " 

" Some of them are, perhaps " (after more hesita- 
tion) . 

" Good many of them been killed, I suppose ? " 

" Don't know." 

" How long has your husband been dead ? " 

" Can't say exactly." 

" Didn't he die at home ? " 

" No : he went away." 

" How long has he been gone ? " 

" Can't say ; ever since the war broke out." 

" Where did he go ? " 

" Towards Richmond." 

" Oh ! he joined the rebel army ? " 

" No : they took him off against his will." 

" Has he ever written to you ? " 



112 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

" Xo : can't get any letters through the lines." 

" How do you know he's dead ? " 

" That's what they say." 

'' But you're not sure of it ? " 

" No : nor any of them, except here and there one." 

Not a little sympathy was awakened at first for this 
large class of afflicted women with which the country 
seemed to abound ; but speedily it became known that ji 
their widowhood was, in most cases, assumed, to enlist | 
feeling in their favor, prevent the appropriation of their ; 
property, and other interference with their affairs liable | 
to occur during war times. ; 

Early in December, a deserter came over from the '\ 
enemy, who stated that there were, within a few miles of 
us, on the opposite bank, some twenty-five thousand I 
men, constituthig the rebel right wing; that they were 
well fed, tolerably well clothed, poorly paid, but, as a 
whole, determined to sell their lives as dearly as possible, 
and were supplied with the Northern newspapers regu- 
larly from some source. Most Marylanders, he said, 
were heartily sick of the struggle, and would follow 
him if they could ; but that the others had a contemp- 
tuous opinion of Yankee valor, and were longing for 
a fight to prove their own superiority. He gave readily 
all the information he possessed concerning the loca- 
tion of regiments and brigades on the other side, the 
number and strength of fortifications, the condition of ' 
the roads, lay of the country, &c. ; and really seemed 
glad to have done with the rebel cause forever. Most 
of the rebel rank and file were men of little or no in- 
formation, of vicious propensities, and of immoral 
lives ; but the officers were gentlemen. 

A gunboat attack was made on Monday, Dec. 9, 



GUNBOAT ATTACK ON A REBEL CAMP. 113 

upon a camp near some storehouses at Freestone 
Point, nearly opposite Camp Hooker. Two gunboats 
came down from the flotilla in reserve near Washing- 
ton, and, standing off about a mile from the shore, be- 
gan to throw shells into and near the woods. As they 
fired, the boats approached nearer the bank, and the 
rebels fled in the utmost confusion. 

The shells apparently did great execution, and the 
reverberation of the pieces was like the roll and crash 
of the loudest thunder. A party landed from one of 
the gunboats, who set fire to the rebel storehouses, and 
burned them to the ground, contents and all. They 
took one wounded rebel prisoner, and saw two lying 
dead in the woods. How many more suffered is left 
to conjecture entirely, as but a short stop was made. 

The flotilla of gunboats, — which had been lying idle 
just below Alexandria for three months, allowing the 
rebels to fire upon oyster vessels, wood craft, and pro- 
vision transports with impunity, during all that time, — 
had received a new commander, who was determined 
to give the enemy shot for shot, and, if possible, silence 
their batteries along shore altogether. 

On Sunday morning, Dec. 15, Aurelius Gray, of 
Company D, died in the brigade hospital, after three 
days' sickness. He was a great favorite in the compa- 
ny to which he belonged, and his body was by them 
sent North for interment. It may be supposed by 
some that war so blunts the better feelings, that sol- 
diers become comparatively indifferent to the death of 
their comrades. To correct this impression, copies 
of resolutions passed concerning the death of Gray 
are hereto subjoined. 

10* 



114 THE FIIiST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE REGIMENT. 

Wliereas, in the providence of God, our friend and 
fellow-soldier, Aurelius Gray, has been removed by 
death from our midst ; and 

Wliereas it seems eminently proper and appropriate 
that those who have been associated with him in the 
army should bear some public testimony to his excel- 
lence as a man, as well as his fidelity as a soldier : 
therefore, 

Resolved, That we deeply regret his departure from 
our ranks in the flower of his strength and vigor of 
his early manhood. 

Resolved, That we bear testimony to his many vir- 
tues of heart and life, endearing him not only to the 
members of his own company, but also to all who 
knew him in the regiment, and making his memory 
precious to his companions-in-arms of every rank. 

Resolved, That in devout submission to the will of 
God, who gave and who hath taken away, we can repeat 
the pious ejaculation, "Blessed be his holy name!" 
and sincerely hope that all may be as well prepared 
for an exchange of worlds as he was. 

Resolved, That we tender to his relatives and 
friends our heartfelt sympathy in the bereavement 
which they have experienced, and assure them that he 
was in every way worthy of their best affection. 

Resolved, That we who remain to carry on the con- 
test from whose toils and sufferings he has been for- 
ever released, will cherish the recollection of his manly 
patriotism, and emulate the noble qualities which at 
tracted around him so many strongly-attached friends. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be for- 



RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY COMPANY D. 115 

warded to the friends of the deceased, and to the 
" Boston Traveller " and " Norfolk-County Journal " 
for publication. 

JOSEPH T. WILSON, Chairman, 
Camp Hooker, Dec. 17, 1861. 

RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE COMPANY. 

Whereas it has pleased our common Creator to re- 
move from us our brother-in-arms, Aurelius Gray: 
therefore, 

Resolved, That, in this dispensation, we recognize 
the hand of an all-wise Providence, and bow with 
humble submission to the will of Almiglity God. 

Resolved, That in him the service has lost a brave 
and faithful soldier, and his companions a kind and 
genial comrade ; and although he did not die as a sol- 
dier would wish, on the field of battle, he has shown 
himself as brave before the enemy as he was frank and 
constant among his friends. 

Resolved, That we sincerely sympathize with the 
family and friends of the deceased in their hour of af- 
fliction, and trust that this dispensation, though seem- 
ingly severe, may be sanctified, through the grace of 
God, to the spiritual good of all who mourn his loss. 

Resolved, That a copy of the above resolutions be 
forwarded to the friends of the deceased, and that 
they be printed in the " Boston Traveller " and 
" Roxbury City Gazette." Signed 

C. A. BRAZER, 

For the Committee. 

An occurrence took place at this time which showed 
that the rebels were still kept familiar with every 
thing that transpired among the Union troops. 

A couple of men, with some drummer-boys, were out 



116 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

in a boat on the Potomac ; and a sudden squall coming 
up drove them, the tide also being against them, 
over to the Virginia shore, and they were taken pris- 
oners by the rebels. They were carried through the 
hostile camps to the cars, and thence transported to 
Richmond. Arrived there, the whole party were 
lodged in jail. The boys were soon released, and, be- 
fore being discharged, questioned closely as to the 
number, condition, and supplies of our men. They 
purposely overstated every thing, but found that their 
questioners knew more about it than they did ; not 
only where our forces were, but how numerous they 
were, who commanded them, and how they were 
clothed and fed. This was aggravating enough, but 
not half so much so as to have their pickets shout 
over the river our countersign for the night, before it 
had been given out to our own sentinels on guard ; 
which was done several times. 

Close by Camp Hooker was the New- York Fourth 
Light Artillery. One of its members gave an evidence 
of patriotism not often equalled. He was a clergyman 
from Upper Michigan, and enlisted with the under- 
standing that he should have some sort of a profes- 
sional position. Upon arriving at Washington, he 
found that there was no such position for him, and 
that he had been imposed upon ; but he did not back 
out. The place of blacksmith was vacant in the bat- 
tery, and he took that, serving in it faithfully until 
disability compelled his discharge. 

Among the rations furnished by Government are 
hard-crackers, or hard-bread, called by the soldiers 
" hard-tack." When in good condition, and made in 
a proper manner, it is a palatable and nutritious kind 



FIRE IN A TENT OF COMPANY F. H" 

of food ; but it was so often in a poor condition, and 
made so carelessly, that the troops were willing to do 
almost any thing to get better bread in its place ; and, 
as it did not matter to the Government whether hard- 
bread was supplied or flour equal in value to the same 
amount, regimental bakeries were frequently estab- 
lished, which produced soft bread equal to the best 
found in the bake-shops of Boston. Additional to the 
advantage of having a better article of food, was the 
saving to the regiment of quite five hundred dollars a 
month, which was called the bakery-fund, and could 
be drawn from Government and appropriated to the 
good of the companies. 

A strong breeze on the Potomac, favorable for the 
passage up or down of sailing-vessels, was sure to be 
taken advantage of by two, three, or more venturesome 
skippers, notwithstanding the thundering protests and 
iron remonstrances of the rebel batteries. On these 
occasions, the soldiers would gather along the hills to 
witness the shots. One Sunday in December, while 
they were thus engaged, one of the tents of Company 
F took fire ; and every thing in it, being all the property 
of eleven men, excepting what they had on, was totally 
destroyed. Guns, knapsacks, belts, blankets, clothing, 
keepsakes, and souvenirs, to the extent of four hun- 
dred dollars in value, were reduced to ashes in less 
than twenty minutes. 

Christmas was not allowed to pass by in camp with- 
out recognition and observance. Companies D and K 
received from good friends in Roxbury a capital dinner 
of turkeys, plum-puddings, mince-pies, jellies, sauces, 
and fruits, which was keenly relished by the members, 
and creditable alike to the generosity and enterprise of 



118 THE FIBST MASSACHUSETTS REGUIENT. 

the donors, as every thing was prepared in Roxbury, 
and l^rought thence to the camp. 

Friday, Dec. 27, an assault was made by the gun- 
boats " Annacosta " and " Yankee " upon the rebels in- 
trenched at Cockpit Point. Though windy and cold, 
the air was remarkably clear, which enabled the gun- 
ners on both sides to obtain great accuracy of aim. 
Forty shots were fired from the boats in about one 
hour ; and such was their effect, that the rebels returned 
but four, one of which entered the " Yankee's " fore- 
castle, tore away a knee from its fastenings, and did 
other damage, so that the boat was obliged to haul off 
for repairs. As it may be interesting to know how the 
regiment was quartered during the winter of 1861 
and 1862, the following account of their barracks is 
submitted : — 

They were built thus. A lot of men were first sent 
into the woods to cut down the trees. They selected 
the straightest, felled them, trimmed off the branches, 
and laid them in piles for transportation to the camp. 
Then came the wagons, or, in some instances, only the 
forward wheels of a wagon, with a company of men to 
act as horses ; and these logs were drawn to the site of 
the house. 

The exact dimensions were then staked out, a bed 
dug for the foundation-logs all round ; and then the 
rest placed one above another, the end of the lower 
being notched to receive tliat just above it, till the 
walls were comj)lete. Some of the roofs were made of 
boards ; but tlic majority were poles covered with straw, 
and that plastered with mud, or mud-plastered poles, 
covered with tarred paper. The chinks between the 
wall-logs were filled with mud, inside and out, which. 



I 



WINTER QUARTERS. 119 

containing considerable clay, soon hardened so as to 
become impervious to wind and rain. 

The houses were seventy-two feet long and twenty 
wide, containing four compartments each, with an 
open space in the centre, and bunks for sleeping fitted 
up round the sides, capable of accommodating twenty- 
five men. Some had stoves, and others large open 
fireplaces ; so that there was no lack of comfort to the 
occupants, if they were inclined to take it. 

The line officers had square log-huts of two tene- 
ments each, one for the captain of a company, the 
other for his two lieutenants, built just as the company 
houses were, and roofed and warmed as variously ; the 
roof having but one pitch, however, from the front to 
the rear. 

Inside you could see a bed, table, chair, or camp-stool, 
boxes, shelves, swords, pistols, guns, &c. 

The quarters for the field and staff were ten feet 
square, with a ridge-pole and canvas roofing, con- 
structed just as those described above, and furnished 
inside according to the taste of the occupant. Some 
were papered, others not; some contained a good deal, 
others not much of any thing ; some looked cosey and 
cheerful, others dreary and cheerless. Houses have 
souls as well as people. 

Only one accident occurred in the construction of 
these forty habitations, by which two men of Company 
A — E. D. Chamberlain and J. C. Singer — were slightly 
injured. The company were drawing logs from the 
woods, and, in coming down hill, they both got thrown 
under the wheels. They were laid up little over a 
week ; and their escape from serious injury was quite 
remarkable. 



120 THE FIBST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

About the 1st of January, 1862, several changes 
were made in the regimental roster. Lieut. Albert S. 
Austin, formerly quartermaster to the regiment, was pro- 
moted to be commissary of subsistence for the division, 
and attached to Gen. Hooker's staJBF. Lieut. William 
P. Cowie, of Company F, was appointed quartermaster 
in his place. Lieut. Charles S. Kendall, of Company 
B, was promoted to the signal corps. Capt. Adams, of 
Company F, Lieut. Jordan, of Company D, and J. W. 
Hall, sergeant-major, were detached for recruiting 
service ; and Lieut. William Sutherland appointed 
temporarily to the command of Company F. 

Sunday morning, Jan. 12, the steam-frigate " Pen- 
sacola " ran the gauntlet of the rebel batteries on her 
way from the Washington Navy Yard, where she had 
been completely refitted, to Fortress Monroe. The rebels, 
pre-advised of her coming, had thrown up several new 
batteries, determined to give her a passing shot, or, if 
possible, to sink her on the way down. It was an anxious 
night in camp ; for we had seen the enemy digging day 
after day on their earthworks, and heard reports of new 
cannon being mounted, so that our solicitude and inter- 
est increased constantly. Some of our men, too, had 
brothers, relatives, or friends on board the ship ; and, a 
week before she started, her trip down was the con- 
stant topic of camp conversation. At last every thing 
had l)ccn made ready, — engines, crew, stores, cargo on 
board, all taut above, decks cleared for action below, 
and a vessel with bundles of soaked hay, covered with 
canvas, fastened to the side exposed to the rebel shot. 
Various tugs and gunboats from the flotilla were to go 
down with her; so that, should any thing serious occur, 
they might be on hand with assistance. 



RUNNING THE BLOCKADE. 121 

The rebels were up all night, and seemed to know as 
well as we that their prey was about to pass the den 
of the hunter. About five o'clock in the morning, she 
started. With a full head of steam, going at the rate of 
fifteen knots an hour, and in the midst of the darkness 
of early morning, she approached the foe. Were they 
asleep ? Were they deceived ? What was the matter ? 
Only twenty-two shots, where fifty at least had been 
expected ; and not one of them hitting the mark ! 
What did it mean ? So it was. The huge bulk of the 
" Pensacola," crowded with men, and loaded with can- 
non, shot, and other munitions of war, passed within half 
a mile of guns which, it was said, would throw the fear- 
ful sixty-four pound shell four miles, and was not hit 
once. Nor did she fire a gun. The boats with her 
replied a few times to the shore batteries ; but the prey 
had escaped, and the hunters had labored for naught. 

After this, however, occurred a good deal of spiteful 
firing. Capt. Smith, of Company B, with his wife and 
three or four men, went up the river in a little sail-boat ; 
and they banged away at him as though determined, if 
they could not bring down an eagle, they would, at 
least, knock over a sparrow : and every little craft that 
attemped to creep up or down the stream, they sent 
their yelling shot after with a rage as futile as it was 
amusing. 

One night. Company C had pickets out on Stump 
Neck, separated from the main shore by a creek then 
frozen over. In the darkness, a boat, with muffled 
oars, approached one of them; and, when he challenged 
it, his answer was a volley of musketry, which sent the 
balls whizzing about his head in the liveliest manner 
conceivable. The fire was at once returned, and the- 
11 



12-2 THE FIIiST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

boat driven off; but the design undoubtedly was to 
have surprised and captured these men, — a design 
luckily foiled by their wakefulness and intrepidity. 

One morning, a small oyster schooner was trying to 
go up the stream, making very slow progress, as there 
was very little wind. She became at once a target for 
rebel practice. After firing many shots, the rebel 
guns hit her once or twice, as she was nearly station- 
ary ; and her crew cast anchor, and came ashore, wait- 
ing for a breeze. At once, Capt. Chamberlain, of 
Company K, with a boat's crew of brave fellows, went 
out to tow her into the creek ; and his appearance was 
the signal for renewed and angry firing. The water 
was not deep enough for her, however, and the attempt 
had to be abandoned, but not until the impotent firing 
of the rebels, and the cool indifference of our men, had 
been made equally apparent. 

But the coolest thing was done by the skipper, or 
pilot, of the " Mystic," which ran up one night to Wash- 
ington to prepare for daily trips betwen the capital 
and Mattawoman Creek. She was fired at eighty- 
seven times ; and at nearly every shot the crew would 
shout defiance to the rebel gunners, and jeer and laugh 
at them for their wretched practice. Indeed, the en- 
gine was stopped in front of the principal battery, and 
the lead thrown as leisurely as though the craft was 
picking her way among the Newfoundland shoals. The 
trig little vessel was not once hit. No wonder such 
repeated failures exasperated the rebels ! To us tliey 
proved one gratifying thing at least : that they were no 
gunners, and, in any tiling like a fair trial on the field, 
would waste more powder and shot than they would 
use to advantage. 



FREQUENT ACTS OF DARING. 123 

Acts of daring, liardlj mentioned outside of the 
lines, were being constantly done by the soldiers during 
this winter, which as it was their first, and devoid of 
the stir of an active campaign, seemed otherwise dull 
and tedious. 

On Sunday, Jan. 19, the barge of the regiment 
made an exceedingly risky trip up the river to the 
landing at Mattawoman Creek, under command of 
Lieut. William L. Candler, of Company A. It was 
broad daylight. A number of large boxes were to be 
carried to the steamboat landing, and, instead of hav- 
ing them placed in wagons, they were loaded into this 
barge by order of Col. Wells, and some twenty-five or 
thirty men detailed to row her up the stream. With 
these boxes and such a crew, she made a capital target ; 
and soon the rebel batteries began their practice at it. 
Above, below, this side, and that, the deadly missiles 
struck, — at one time sending back from the bank sand 
into the boat even, but no one was hit ; and steadily, 
regularly the gallant fellows rowed up to their desti- 
nation. 

Such an act of cool intrepidity is far more worthy of 
praise than the most daring deeds done in the heat 
of battle, or under the stimulus of excitement and pas- 
sion. To rush up to the cannon's mouth in a glow 
of feverish enthusiasm shows bravery indeed ; but to 
sit down to an oar in a crazy old boat, and keep calmly 
at work, when cannon-balls and shrieking shells are 
whizzing round, shows more. The rebels could be dis- 
tinctly seen while trying to sink this barge ( they 
always show themselves when there is no danger of 
being hit by the enemy) ; and, after firing, tliey would 
stand perfectly still, watching the flight of their shot. 



124 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

and if it struck near the object aimed at, they would 
leap and shout with joy. 

A sad event occurred Friday, Jan. 31, by which Her- 
bert S. Barlow instantly lost his life. The regiment was 
just mustering for afternoon battalion drill; and, as 
Company F stood waiting the order to form on the line, 
some of the members began, in fun, to push this way 
and that a little. One of the corporals was told spor- 
tively that he would have to shoot some one, and 
replying, "he guessed he should," or something to that 
effect, he raised his gun, not dreaming it was loaded, 
and snapped it (as is constantly done by the men in 
sport) without any particular aim. 

But, alas ! it had been loaded by some one else, with- 
out his knowledge. It exploded. The ball struck poor 
Barlow in the right breast, went through, or fatally 
injured, the spinal column, and exclaiming only, " Oh, 
oh ! " he sank down, and in ten minutes was a corpse. 

Those who stood by were all horror-stricken, and 
none more so than the corporal so unfortunate as to 
fire the gun ; for Barlow was his best friend, and they 
had but just come out of the same bunk, where, for an 
hour previously, they had been lying side by side to- 
gether. Willingly, joyfully, would he have lain down 
his own life to bring back his friend's ; but it could not 
be, and for hours he refused to be comforted. 

Barlow was a young man of nineteen, the pet of his 
company, and left a widowed mother in Brookline, 
Mass., to mourn his untimely departure. The body was 
embalmed and sent North. 

It became absolutely indispensable, as wet weather 
advanced and mud grew deeper, to build from all the 
camps, along the river-bank to Rum Point, where was 



THE DEATH OF DR. LUTHER V. BELL. 125 

the division supply depot, a corduroy road. It turned 
out the best road in this part of Maryland, solid, wide, 
substantial. Tlie men had some rare sport in building 
it, cutting down trees containing coons, owls, and 
game of various kinds, and, accidentally of course, 
tripping each other up near some hole full of soft mud, 
singing, whistling, telling stories, cracking jokes, and 
asking as they plodded along, tottering under the heavy 
green timbers, and spattered with mud up to the mid- 
dle, " Who wouldn't be a soldier in the army ? " 

On the 11th of February, 1862, Gen. Hooker's en- 
tire division suffered a great loss in the 'death of Dr. 
Luther V. Bell, its first medical director, formerly su- 
perintendent of the Massachusetts McLean Asylum for 
the Insane. He died at his post, refusing to leave for 
home, although, for weeks previously, very seriously 
indisposed. His funeral was attended by all the offi- 
cers of the division, and the remains sent home under 
the charge of Dr. John Foye. 

Among the graduates of Harvard College in the reg- 
iment, was Capt. Edward A. Wild, of Company A, of 
the class of 1844. Twenty of his classmates sent him 
for a New-Year's present, in January, 1862, an elegant 
sword, of the regulation pattern, very elaborately 
chased, heavily gilded, with gold cord and tassels, 
and a shark-skin sheath. Capt. Wild became subse- 
quently colonel of the Thirty-fifth Regiment, and lost 
an arm at the battle of Antietam. He was afterwards 
commissioned brigadier-general of colored troops under 
Gen. Butler. 

During the autumn of 1861, strong efforts were 
made to obtain the commission of brigadier-general 
for Col. Cowdin, and secure his appointment to the 
11* 



12G THE FinST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

first bngaclc. Gen. Hooker wrote a strong letter in 
his behalf. Mayor George Opdyke, of New York, and 
other influential men, interceded for him ; but, on the 
19th of February, he was relieved by Brig.-Gen. Henry 
M. Naglee, a graduate of West Point, who took com- 
mand of the brigade, and Col. Oowdin at once re- 
turned to the First Regiment. He met with a hearty 
reception, was honored with a serenade in the evening, 
after which he made a few remarks, and received six 
rousing cheers. 

A gale in camp is quite as destructive as in a city 
or town. The one which, on Feb. 24, inflicted so 
much damage in Boston and elsewhere, was equally 
disastrous at Budd's Ferry. Boats were driven ashore 
and stove, barns blown down, the cabin of Company 
B's commissioned officers unroofed, the Cumstoli Chapel 
Tent prostrated, several other tents levelled with the 
ground, tarred paper and other roofing torn from 
tlie roofs of company houses, and things generally 
sent flying round the camp in dire confusion. 

A couple of Whitworth ten-pounder guns, from loyal 
friends in England, were assigned to the division during 
this month, which, upon being tried by Gens. Hooker 
and Naglee, were found to possess great accuracy and 
power. 

After dress-parade, Tuesday evening, March 5, Mr. 
Lewis Mason, on behalf of some two hundred of his 
fellow-citizens in Boston, presented Col. Cowdin with 
a superb sword having two scabbards, together with 
a costly silk sash, a handsome pair of epaulets, and 
an elegant belt. Speeches, music, and cheering fol- 
lowed the presentation ; and a fine serenade closed 
the day. 



EVACUATIOX OF THE REBEL WORKS. 127 

Early in March, considerable activity was observable 
among the rebel encampments on the other side of the 
river. Huge fires were kept burning in certain locali- 
ties day and night. Occasionally the rebels would allow 
half a dozen vessels to pass up or down the Potomac, 
without discharging a gun, and then, all of a sudden, 
become more noisy than ever. Several of their posi- 
tions had been shelled by the gunboats " Satellite " 
and " Island Belle," which had caused some changes. 

On the afternoon of Sunday, March 9, during a 
gunboat reconnoissance, the rebel batteries, to the 
inexpressible astonishment of Union lookers-on, were 
suddenly evacuated. The whole country, for miles 
up and down the Potomac, and far back to the rear, 
seemed to be in a perfect uproar. Every thing burn- 
able was set on fire, guns spiked, gunpowder blown up ; 
and soon dense volumes of smoke arose from all the 
camps, showing that they too had been fired and 
deserted. For over two hours, loud explosions were 
heard in the direction of this burning property, hidi- 
cating that magazines and barracks were sharing the 
same fate. 

The steamer " Page " likewise, and two schooners, 
which had been kept near the batteries, began to blaze ; 
and every thing betokened a panic and stampede from 
the sacred shore so long and defiantly held. The 
Maryland shore of the Potomac was covered with an 
enthusiastic and delighted crowd of spectators; and 
many and loud were the cheers, as fire would break 
out in some fresh spot, or a magazine explode, or a 
gun or shells reached by the flames go off untouched. 

It pretty soon became evident that the works were 
abandoned, and the long-expected and somewhat 



128 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS- REGIMENT. 

dreaded passage of the Potomac could be made with- 
out a battle. Accordingly, three gunboats drew near 
to the land, and two barges, loaded with men from the 
Massachusetts First, rowed over from this side. Union 
flags were brought into requisition, and soon the glori- 
ous banner of freedom was floating from the Opossum- 
nose Battery, carried thither by the gunboat " Anna- 
costa's " crew, and from the Shipping-Point Battery 
carried thither by the men of this regiment. 

To Lieut. Frank Carruth belongs the honor of first 
waving this flag above the fortification from which so 
long had frowned the rebel cannon. 

Our men very soon covered the works like a colony 
of ants. They dived into the burning magazines; 
spiked one of the guns which had been left loaded ; 
found three whose muzzles had been pointing at us in 
the Southern style of threatening (inade of wood) ; vis- 
ited the cook-houses, where was fresh meat just cut 
for somebody's dinner ; and gathered up relics of every 
description in the way of shot, shells, bowie-knives, 
battery apparatus, culinary implements, <fec., with 
which they loaded themselves. 

The next day five hundred men went over again to 
make thorough investigations. They found at Ship- 
ping Point sixteeii lieavy guns, three of which were 
white-oak Quakers, intended to deceive balloonists ; 
four had been burst, the rest spiked, and the car- 
riages split up, and set on fire. 

The great gun, which threw the hundred and twen- 
ty-eight pound shell, was found loaded to the muzzle 
with sand, with a fire kindled near, in the hope that 
its discharge would ruin it. On it, in raised letters, 
were the words, "Blakelcy's Patent, Low Moor, 1861;" 



THE DESERTED CAMP. 129 

and the weight was between ten and eleven thousand 
pounds. This gun was brought from England in the 
" Bermuda.'* 

The battery was abundantly supplied with cannon- 
balls, cannister and grape-shot, and shells ; the de- 
fences were planned so that a prolonged and bloody 
resistance could be made ; there was a covered way, 
and the gunners were screened by bomb-proofs, and 
their sleeping-apartments sunk several feet in the 
ground. But Union feet trod the places they had 
held so defiantly. Union hands repossessed the prop- 
erty they had stolen, and not a drop of blood had been 
spilt, not a life lost, not a man even scratched. Capts. 
Wild, Chamberlain, and Ward, with their companies, 
went out on scouting parties, in different directions 
from the battery, and visited all the deserted rebel 
camps. 

They found and brought away a considerable quan- 
tity of regimental papers and private letters, which 
were in the hurry left scattered about the rebel quar- 
ters. The papers, for the most part, were poorly kept, 
and showed both a lax state of discipline among the 
troops, and gross ignorance on the part of the officers. 
The private letters were of all descriptions, from al- 
most illegible scrawls, with all the rules of grammar 
and spelling set at defiance, to delicate missives on gilt- 
edged paper, or verbose documents with rabid changes 
rung on the prevailing sentiment, " Death to the Yan- 
kees!" 

The deserted camps were found supplied with every 
thing needful for winter-quarters. The houses were 
built of logs, with floors and roofs of board, some hav- 
ing glazed windows ; and one actually green blinds, 



130 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Their cooking arrangements were on the most liberal 
scale ; and the utensils good as to quality, and plentiful 
in quantity ; but houses, beds, and every thing else, in 
fact, were filtliy to the last degree. 

Five prisoners were brought over, three white and 
two colored. One was an English boy, not twenty 
years of age, who had been in the country but one 
year, and joined the Texas Eangers, or "Yankee- 
killers," as they termed themselves, from whom he 
deserted with evident satisfaction. All the prisoners 
were sent at once to Washington. The prisoners were 
decently dressed, and said they had been well fed, but 
agreed that the rebels were fast losing heart in their 
cause ; and some declared it was ruined forever. 

Two banners were obtained ; one by Lieut. Cand- 
ler, of Company A, belonging to an Arkansas regi- 
ment, with the State coat of arms and motto, '^Reg- 
nant Populi^^^ on one side ; and on the other, " Our 
rights. Peaceably, if we can — forcibly, if we must." 
This was made of silk, and considerably defaced. 
The other was a handsome satin banner, obtained by 
Capt. Chamberlain, Company K, with " Onward to 
Victory " on one side, and " The Randolph Hornets " 
on the other. Nearly every house of the Yankee- 
killers had also a black rag of some sort nailed 
above the door, showing that the chivalric gentlemen 
had at last come out in their true colors, and mani- 
fested the high-toned sentiments which had impelled 
them to expose their valuable lives to defend perjured 
robbers and lying cheats in higli places. 

Trophies of every conceivable variety were brought 
to camp, from a litter of bloodhound pups to a 
hundred and twenty-eight pound shell. Tooth-brush- 



THE DESERTED CAMP. 131 

es, buttons, Bibles, blankets, candy, tobacco. Under- 
wood's Boston pickles, Ames's North-Easton shovels 
and spades, wheelbarrows, chairs, camp-stools, pow- 
der and flasks, shot, guji-sights, cap-boxes, came over 
by the boat-load. 

The rebel camps were abundantly supplied with 
every thing needed for creature comfort ; and if tbcy 
had been kept neat or clean, and laid out with proper 
regularity, would have been very creditable to their 
late occupants ; but they were filled with vile odors. 
The houses were infested with vermin, damp, and 
black with smoke ; and most of our men would 
sooner sleep on the ground than in one of them. 

Capt. Ward found a plentiful supply of boats along 
the banks of Quantico Creek, and some very fine ones ; 
but most of them had been sawn in two, or holes were 
bored in their sides to render them valueless. 

The rebels seemed to have lived upon the fat of the 
land. Beef, pork, flour, bread, salt, coffee, &c., were 
found among their stores, not to mention whiskey, and 
a large case of candy. 

In one instance, a table had just been set for din- 
ner, the meat was already cut, and the cakes by the 
fire, showing, that from that place the occupants were 
in too much of a hurry to get away to stop for a lunch. 
The company rolls and morning reports of regiments 
showed that there had been great mortality among the 
men. 

From one company of less than seventy, thirty were 
reported to have died. In a coffin-warehouse, where 
twelve ready-made coffins were found, an order came 
to light for twenty-four coffins to be furnished to one 
regiment at one time. 



132 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Orders were at once issued from headquarters to 
reraove all property of value from the rebel position, 
and render it useless for defensive purposes. 

After three days' work, the batteries on Cockpit and 
Shipping Points were dismantled. The magazine that 
had been left so that, upon being opened, it might 
explode, and blow all around it to atoms ; and the 
great guns which had been loaded to the muzzle, and 
so arranged that they might burst, when the fortifica- 
tion was entered, — all proved harmless. The carriages 
were split up and burned, the guns left in the sand, or 
thrown over the bank, the shot, shell, and other mili- 
tary property loaded into lighters ; and soon silence 
and desolation reigned along the shore so lately trod- 
den by rebel feet, and shaken by the roar of rebel 
artillery. 

While pursuing their tasks, the members of the 
First came across numbers of graves. They were 
laid out in streets, carefully labelled, and contained 
pathetic remonstrances against disturbing the repose 
of the dead, and violating the sanctity of the tomb, so 
that suspicions were engendered that the sacred dead 
might be brought to life again, and made to see a 
little more service under the sun. 

Spades and shovels were accordingly brought into 
requisition; and speedily were exhumed, not the bodies 
of departed Confederates, but numbers of nice new 
tents, packages of clothing, mess-chests furnislied 
with all the appliances of modern cookery, trunks of 
various articles, tools, <fec. The grave-diggers were 
complimented for the success of their first sacrilegious 
experiment, and recommended to try again. 

Among the men left behind by the rebels was one 



SLA VE-HUNTING. 133 

who claimed to be a Union man, and who stated that 
because he refused to accompany them to Richmond, 
they had threatened to handcuff him, when he deliber- 
ately took out a razor, and cut his throat. This neces- 
sitated his being left ; and, having been called upon 
by our assistant surgeon. Dr. Monroe, he freely told 
the circumstances to him, claiming to be a Union man, 
and entitled to Union protection. 

After this date, we heard no more the reverberations 
of rebel artillery echoing through the woods and over 
the hills around Camp Hooker. The Potomac became 
alive with Union sailing-craft, and steamboats of all 
sizes. Thousands upon thousands of troops were 
transported down the river towards the Peninsula, and 
preparations were made, as rapidly as possible, to va- 
cate Budd's Ferry, and join in the general advance on 
Richmond, by the way of Yorktown, Williamsburg, 
and the Pamunkey. 

Congress having passed the law forbidding officers 
and men in the army to assist in the capture and ren- 
dition of slaves, not a few of these unfortunate beings 
sought asylum in the various camps. One man came 
along complaining he had lost two, another four, 
another six, of them. 

Twenty-one of these bereaved and afflicted gentle- 
men once called upon Gen. Hooker for permission 
to search the various camps for their property. The 
permission was given. But in slave-hunting it is one 
thing to seek, and quite another to find. A dozen men 
could have been secreted in Camp Hooker, whom no 
slave-hunter could ferret out, unless our troops were 
willing. 

As these traders in human flesh, yea, human happi- 

12 



134 TEE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS BEGIMENT. 

ness and welfare, rode by Camp Hooker, the jeers and 
outcries they provoked proved, that, whatever party 
theory the men might maintain, their sympathies were 
practically on the right side. 

In a certain regiment of Gen. Sickles's brigade, one 
of tliese heartless scoundrels dared to discharge a 
pistol at a negro who refused to stop when he com- ! 
manded, and was summarily hustled out of the camp. \ 
Another took a stick to his chattel ; and the chattel, ; 
sniffing the air of emancipation, wrenched it out of ; 
his hands, and gave the holder such a taste of its quali- 
ty, that he called out to the surrounding soldiers to 
interfere. But the soldiers were law-abiding citizens 
from New York : it was uncongressional to interfere, 
and, in some singular manner, the chattel spirited him- 
self away, leaving no token of his presence other than 
the ireful exasperation and aching shoulders of his for- 
mer master. So the tables turned. So liberty sprang 
to life wherever was seen the gleam of Union bayonets, 
or heard the tramp of Union battalions. 

Contrabands from Virginia were continually coming 
in. Every week or two, a squad of twenty or more 
crossed the river, bag and baggage, and were escorted 
to our provost-marshal's quarters, laughing, cracking 
jokes, and looking as jolly as possible. 

He passed them on to Washington, where some pro- , 
vision was made for them by the Government, until 
tliey could be furnished with permanent occupation. 
One lot came from Fredericksburg. They reported 
that tliis town was evacuated, and, their masters hav- 
ing left them, they thouglit it no harm to leave their 
masters. 



CAMPING OUT. 135 

The barracks of the First Regiment were now 
selected for a division-hospital, and the men obliged 
to vacate, and pitch tents in the open field. Some 
grumbling arose at this ; but, by the majority, it was 
submitted to with good grace and in a quiet way. 





^.^#^% 



CHAPTER V. 



SIEGE OF YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA. 

" We wait beneath the furnace-blast 
The pangs of transformation : 
Not painlessly does God recast 
And mould anew the nation. 
Hot burns the fire 
Where wrongs expire ; 
Nor spares the hand 
That from the land 
Uproots the ancient evil." — J. G. Whittier. 

AS soon as the soldiers were ousted from their snug 
quarters at Camp Hooker, and required to take 
up with tents again, arrangements were made to trans- 
port all superfluous baggage to Washington for stor- 
age. Wagon-loads of trunks filled with clothing, relics, 
&c., were sent off in consequence, together with the 
chapel tent and other tents, not actually indispensable 
during a campaign. New clothing, shoes, and caps 
were issued to the companies, with whatever articles 
were needed to complete their accoutrements ; and 
every cartridge-box received a full supply of powder 
and ball. The hospital supplies of thirteen camps, 
with various extras obtained from the United-States 
Sanitary Commission, were piled up in and around the 
brigade hospital-building, sick officers and privates re- 
moved to the various structures assigned for their use, 
and a couple of lady nurses from the former division 
hospital ordered by Gen. Hooker to report for duty to 



I 




, 1 \ \TTTV 



EMBARKATION OF THE REGIMENT. 137 

the surgeon in charge. The library of the Fay l^iiterary 
Institute was left for the use of the sick or convalescent, 
and proved not only acceptable, but very useful to 
them. 

At the solicitation of several slave-owners in the 
vicinity, orders were issued that no colored persons be 
allowed to go on board the steamboats or sailing craft 
engaged in the transportation of troops ; but as grain, 
baggage, provisions, and stores had to be put aboard 
by such persons, several managed to secrete themselves 
on board at the same time, and, remaining invisible 
until the soldiers arrived at their destination, effected 
in this vray their escape from bondage. 

- Friday, April 4, orders were issued to pack up every 
thing, and move to the transports. Accordingly, re- 
veille was heard at four o'clock the next morning, break- 
fast was eaten straightway, tents struck at six o'clock, 
the line formed at seven ; and by nine, a.m., every thing 
was on board the steamboat " Kennebec." The men 
were packed in and stowed away without much regard 
to comfort or cleanliness ; but, as it was supposed that 
twenty-four hours would prove the limit of their stay, 
no complaint was heard. The day passed, however, 
and the boat had not stirred. Night came. What 
was left of Widow Budd's house was set on fire and 
burned to the ground in the darkness. Sunday dawned 
and passed ; Sunday night passed also. It was not 
until Monday forenoon, two days after we embarked, 
that the anchor was weighed and the engines put in 
motion. With us were the " South America," " Em- 
peror," " Jenny Lind," " Pioneer," and several schoon- 
ers loaded with the other regiments of our brigade, 
horses, cannon, and supplies. 

12* 



138 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Relio:ious services were held on the deck of the 
" Kennebec," Sunday, April 6 ; during which an event 
occurred which came near proving disastrous. Several 
men, listening to the discourse, were leaning heavily 
against the vessel's rail. It proved too weak for their 
support, and gave way so suddenly, that, quick as a 
flash, three of them were precipitated into the water, 
and disappeared beneath the surface. Eager looks 
were bent upon the place where they had sunk ; and 
ready hands caught ropes, and threw them overboard 
for their support. All three luckily came to the surface, 
seized the ropes, and were at once drawn on board, 
having sustained no other injury than a thorough duck- 
ing. The services then proceeded, and were con- 
cluded as usual. When the " Kennebec" arrived at the 
mouth of the Potomac, a north-east storm had arisen, 
with somewhat of a gale and a heavy sea ; so that it was 
deemed advisable to come to anchor, and wait for it to 
subside. Several of the soldiers were seasick; and the 
steamboat's being heavily loaded caused it to roll and 
pitch in a very disagreeable manner. 

The storm began to abate Wednesday evening, when 
the trip was resumed ; and at nine o'clock Thursday 
morning the vessel was anchored off Fortress Monroe. 
The men were now on very short commons ; had been 
five days instead of one crowded together like sheep in 
a pen, many of them seasick ; and were longing for a 
chance to tread the solid earth once more. The next 
morning, at Ship Point, on the York River, they 
left the " Kennebec " for the woods. 

While at Fortress Monroe, many objects of interest 
were presented to the eye. The original " Monitor," 
iron-clad, which had scared oflf the " Merrimack," was 



LANDING OF THE TROOPS. 139 

anchored alongside, waiting for another visit from the 
discomfited monster. The " Yanderbilt," was also 
there, with its huge prow of wood and iron, ready to run 
the formidable rebel craft down. The Rip-Raps loomed 
up above the water, showing grim rows of port-holes in 
threatening array. Sewell's-Point and Newport-News 
batteries were plainly visible likewise, and the masts of 
the frigate " Cumberland," which heroically went down 
without striking her flag on the 8th of March, in con- 
flict with the "Merrimack." 

Ship Point had been fortified by the rebels, and 
some formidable earthworks thrown up to prevent the 
landing of our forces. They were evacuated upon our 
approach, however, without any attempt at resistance. 
At the landing were large numbers of troops just disem- 
barked from a fleet of steamers, piles of quartermas- 
ters' and commissaries' stores, and ordnance great and 
small. Bands were playing merrily as we marched 
into the woods ; and regiments lay over the fields in 
every direction, awaiting orders. The locality was 
found very unfavorable for the troops, on account of its 
low, swampy character. At any time during the day, 
water could be obtained by digging two or three 
feet ; and at night, or just before sunrise in the morn- 
ing, fogs and mists enveloped land and water alike. A 
change of quarters was therefore made on the afternoon 
of Saturday, the 12th ; and, after a march of about six 
miles, the regiment encamped a few hundred feet in 
rear of the Poquosin River, upon land high and dry, in 
the midst of a growth of young pines. The appearance 
of the vicinity was not uninviting. There were several 
well-built houses, surrounded by cultivated plots of 
ground ; and the residents, though not communicative, 



140 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

were civil and respectful. Most of the men had disap- 
peared, having joined or been compelled to enter the 
rebel army. Tlie women and children who remained, 
though reticent and sorrowful, were not insulting. 
Until Wednesday, the 16th, the troops were occupied 
in building a wharf, loading and unloading vessels, 
and making themselves comfortable in their tents. All 
the regiments composing the brigade were encamped 
close by ; and both Gens. Hooker andNaglee had their 
headquarters in our immediate vicinity. Fresh troops 
were pouring in daily, and marching up in the direc- 
tion of Yorktown ; and the occasional discharge of 
artillery, softened by distance, showed that its invest- 
ment had already begun. All around us were life, 
activity, and stir ; and every one felt eager to press 
forward, and participate in the enterprises evidently on 
foot. Never was an army in better spirits or better 
condition than that which Gen. McClellan gathered 
before Yorktown. Unlimited confidence was felt in 
him, and perfect assurance that his measures would 
result in the rout of the rebels, not only from York- 
town, but also from Williamsburg and Richmond. 

The march from Poquosin River was about four 
miles. On the way we passed several well-constructed 
earthworks commanding the roads, a couple of un- 
completed forts, and some abandoned camps, where, 
the rebels had spent the winter. Although it was late 
in the season, the roads, owing to the marshy condition 
of the soil, were almost impassable for heavy artillery ; 
and fatigue-parties were at work even then, construct- 
ing corduroys. Arrived at the extreme front, we 
were encamped under cover of a thick wood, nearly 
two miles from the rebel fortifications, in close order, 



YORK TOWN. 141 

by column of brigades. We occupied, it was said, the 
very fields formerly held by the American army under 
George Washington ; and our camps were pitched close 
by the spot where he received the surrender of Lord 
Cornwallis and his army on the 19th of October, 1781. 
Yorktown at this time, like most Virginia settlements, 
was in a state of dilapidation and decay. Notwith- 
standing its historical importance, there did not seem 
to be enterprise enough among its inhabitants to keep 
it in a neat and respectable condition. Being the cap- 
ital of York County, and a port of entry, it contained 
a court house, jail, county offices, and some other pub- 
lic buildings ; but, until occupied and fortified by the 
rebel forces, it could not boast of over three hundred 
residents. 

On the 5th of April, the first and third divisions of 
Gen. Heintzelman's corps advanced upon it from the 
direction of Great Bethel. Averill's cavalry and Ber- 
dan's sharpshooters had the advance, on the lookout 
for ambuscades and masked batteries. Passing by 
Cheeseman's and Goose Creeks, over a swampy forest 
road, three miles in length, through mud sometimes 
up to the men's knees, they emerged into the open 
country about ten o'clock in the morning, and took up 
position in plain sight of the rebel intrenchments 
around Yorktown and beyond. They were evidently 
very strong. Some thousands of negroes had been 
employed upon them for several months. Berdan's 
sharpshooters were posted only eight hundred yards 
from the enemy's lines ; the artillery, supported by in- 
fantry in the rear, about fifteen hundred yards. The 
first shot came from the rebels. It struck in the sand, 
doing no harm. Being immediately responded to, a 



142 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

second one followed, which hit Private Reynolds, a 
gunner in Capt. Weeden's battery, on the right thigh. 
His limb was amputated ; but he died in less than half 
an hour. The firing now became general, and contin- 
ued, without intermission, for an hour and a half. 
The rebel pieces were twelve and twenty-four pounders, 
from whicli tliey fired mainly solid shot : ours were 
ten-pound rifles, throwing shells. 

While tlie artillerists were most busily engaged, 
the rebel gunners suffered severely from our sharp- 
shooters. Every man was on the watch ; and, as soon 
as a single head or form appeared at an embrasure, 
the unerring rifle-ball was sent on its mission of death. 
At least fifty of the enemy were killed or wounded in this 
manner without his being able to retort. Exasperated 
at last, they wheeled out a howitzer to the left of their 
works, discharged it, and then drew it back to reload, 
sending at the same time a body of skirmishers into 
the rifle-pits fronting their works ; but the havoc con- 
tinued, and, on account of it, their fire slackened, 
which led to a partial suspension of the conflict. It 
was renewed fitfully, at intervals, throughout the day, 
but, towards night, ceased altogether ; and our forces, 
having demonstrated their ability to hold the position, 
went into bivouac on the right and left of the York- 
town Turnpike. A little to the left of this, in plain 
sight of the hostile earthworks, was found an aban- 
doned saw-mill. The engine, machinery, and belting 
had been left in perfect order ; and nothing upon the 
grounds could have been more opportune. It was pre- 
cisely what we wanted to furnish planking for our 
siege-works ; and was at once taken possession of, and 
made to do good service in the Union cause. 



INCESSANT AND EXHAUSTIVE LABOR. 143 

It was thought, at first, that the fortifications around 
Yorktown might be carried by assault : but, after re- 
peated and careful examinations, this idea was aban- 
doned, as involving altogether too much sacrifice of 
human life ; and a series of regular approaches by 
parallels was determined upon. By April 20, two- 
thirds of Gen. McClellan's army were within cannon- 
shot of the enemy's lines, shielded from sight by inter- 
vening woods, which hid both parties from each other's 
observation; and, lest our proximity might be revealed, 
bands were forbidden to play, drum-calls were given 
up, and no firing allowed except when in front on ac- 
tual duty. The labors of the men were incessant, and 
unusually fatiguing. To prevent surprise, they were 
roused between three and four o'clock every morning, 
and compelled to stand under arms for an hour or 
more. After breakfast, details from all the companies 
were sent with a shovel, axe, or pick over one shoulder, 
and a gun over the other, to work on the roads, in the 
trenches, or among the woods. They did not return 
till night, and then, after turning in utterly exhausted, 
were liable to be called up once or more every night 
by a sortie from the enemy, or a false alarm from our 
own pickets. The rebels seemed to be perfectly aware 
of the strength of their earthworks ; and towards the 
west, beyond the reach of our sharpshooters, would 
occasionally hold a dress-parade outside their forts in 
plain sight of our pickets, going through the various 
movements with as much nonchalance as though fight- 
ing were only a commonplace event, and warfare pas- 
time. 

During the earlier part of the siege, they made some 
experiments with a balloon, which was seen to rise 



144 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

over the northern line of then- works to the height of 
at least twelve hundred feet, and remain stationary for 
several minutes : but the attempt proved a failure, or 
they were dissatisfied with the result ; for it was never 
renewed. 

By command of Gen. McClellan, the entire Union po- 
sition was named " Camp Winfield Scott." It extend- 
ed across the peninsula formed by the York and James 
Rivers, from the mouth of Warwick River, a tributary 
of the James, to Wormley's Creek, wIhcIi was an afflu- 
ent of the York. A formidable chain of redoubts had 
been established along the line at least ten miles in 
length, which terminated at Gloucester Point, opposite 
Yorktown, in double-rank batteries commanding both 
river and shore. 

At Lee's Mills, the southernmost point of the Union 
position, an attempt was made on the 16th of April to 
drive the rebels out of their intrenchments. Covered 
by a heavy artillery fire, the Vermont brigade crossed 
a narrow stream fronting the line of rebel rifle-pits, 
and succeeded in driving them out at the point of the 
bayonet ; but falling back into a redoubt in the rear, 
and receiving reenforcements, not only in front, but 
in a flanking position on the left, they opened a cross- 
fire so galling that the Green-Mountain boys were 
compelled to fall back. 

To prevent an assault upon them by overwhelming 
numbers as they fell back to their former position , fire 
was opened along the entire lines. This had the de- 
sired effect ; and the men returned in good order, cov- 
ering themselves with trees to the verge of the stream, 
and then crossed without confusion, carrying their 
wounded with them. The bullets flew so thick in the 



SIEGE OPERATIONS. 145 

stream, that one of the combatants declared it remind- 
ed him of a sap-boihng in maple-sugar time. As fast 
as they arrived on this side, the men, drenched as they 
were, faced about, and kept the rebels at a respectful 
distance ; while many, who were merely looking on, 
voluntarily plunged into tlie water, and rescued the 
wounded, who were clinging to trees, or sitting with 
their heads just above the surface. 

On both sides a perpetual watch was kept to prevent 
surprise, and take advantage of any oversight commit- 
ted by either party. This led to the waste of an im- 
mense amount of gunpowder, lead, and iron, espe- 
cially at night, when trees were mistaken for men, fire- 
flies for lighted matches, and bushes, swayed by the 
breeze, for armed battalions creeping cautiously along 
on hands and knees. Most of the work in the trenches, 
where the details were at all exposed, was done in the 
night. During the daytime the risk was greater, inas- 
much as the enemy could get the range with tolerable 
accuracy, and observe the effect of their shot. At 
night it was mostly guess-work. In the vicinity of 
every working party, some one was always posted 
on the watch. During the day a puff of white smoke, 
and at night the sudden flash of the gun, gave warn- 
hig of the coming shell ; and before it reached its ob- 
ject, every man was lying flat behind the breastwork. 
To novices this labor was very exciting, and no special 
pains were needed to keep them awake while it was 
being done. But such creatures of habit are we, that, 
after a week or ten days, men, having completed the 
portion assigned them on the works, would retire a 
few paces, lie down, and sleep as soundly amid the roar 
of hostile cannon and the crash of bursting shells as 

13 



146 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

ill their beds at home. Occasionally, some one would 
be killed or seriously injured; but such casualties were 
more owing to careless exposure on the part of those 
curious to survey the hostile intrenchments, than to 
the hazards attending the discharge of duty. During 
the day, about all the rebel cannoneers or riflemen 
could see of the Union fatigne-parties were the tops 
of their picks and spades as they were lifted above 
their heads, or the shovelfuls of earth that were 
thrown upon the ramparts ; and the only general effect 
of firing upon these was to strengthen them, and thus 
expedite the very work they were eager to prevent. 

The position of sharp-shooter was one of constant 
privation and jeopardy. Creeping out at night on all- 
fours to within six or eight hundred yards of the op- 
posite lines, he selected a tree, stone, pit, or chimney, 
behind which to secrete himself. At daylight, every 
part of him must be invisible, and remain so till sun- 
down. At the same time, he must be able to draw a 
bead upon some rebel angle, embrasure, or other posi- 
tion of importance. Whatever the weather, — warm, 
cold, wet, or dry ; whatever his condition, sick or well, 
wounded, or even dying, — there he must remain till 
nightfall, or, exposing himself, run the risk of instant 
deatli. Among Berdan's sharp-shooters was one known 
by the soubriquet of " California Joe," who had acquired 
the reputation of being the best shot in the army. 
Many stories are told about him, undoubtedly having 
their foundation more in imagination than in reality ; 
but, at the same time, it is true that he rendered signal 
service in keeping guns, that would otherwise have 
proved very troublesome, silent. Over one large piece 
he obtained such perfect control by picking off the 



SIEGE OPERATIONS. 147 

men as fast as they endeavored to load and fire it, that 
he called it " his gun : " and, as long as he remained 
in front, it truly seemed to be ; for it was very seldom 
discharged, except at night. Other sharp-shooters had 
stories of hair-breadth escapes, of rifle-duels, and inju- 
ry inflicted upon the enemy, most wonderful to tell ; 
and the marvel is that they have not all been collected 
in a book, and given to the public. 

The sharp-shooters answered the purpose of pickets 
in the daytime ; for not a rebel showed himself above 
or outside the parapet but half a dozen rifle-balls ad- 
monished him to be more cautious : but at night, when 
the sharp-shooters were relieved, the pickets w^ere posted 
as usual in the open field, supported by a reserve along 
the edge of the woods. Once or twice during the 
darkness, the rebel pickets were posted inside our lines, 
or ours inside theirs ; a mistake that did not remain 
long undiscovered. 

The quarters of Gens. Heintzelman, Hooker, and 
Naglee, were all witliin cannon-shot distance of the 
rebel parapets ; Gen. Heintzelman's, indeed, being al- 
most on aline with the first parallel ; and the men saw 
them exposed daily to the same perils from flying mis- 
siles with themselves. 

Notwithstanding the crowded condition of the camps, 
their close proximity to each other, and the exhausting 
labors required of the troops, tliey found time to adorn 
their tents, beautify their streets, set out trees, and 
make every thing about them look pleasant and invit- 
ing. Go where they would, these Northern men car- 
ried Northern tastes and notions with them ; and in 
the quarters of two-tliirds of them could be found the 



148 rilE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Northern papers and magazines just as plentifully as 
in the same number of habitations at home. 

The landing at Cheeseman's Creek presented at this 
time a spectacle of industry, activity, and enterprise, 
well worth a visit. Steamers of every tonnage and 
kind lay at the wharves and out in the stream. Sailing 
vessels loaded down to the water's edge with stores 
and munitions of war, piles of shot and shell of every 
size, rows of cannon of every caliber, boxes of mus- 
kets, fixed ammunition, clothing, hospital and saiiitary 
stores, blacksmiths' forges, pontoon - boats, sutlers' 
booths, immense wheels for the conveyance of ord- 
nance, temporary depots for the reception and delivery 
of commissary and quartermaster's stores, long lines 
of army wagons from every brigade, division, and 
corps, waiting to be loaded, and scores of laborers, 
soldiers, sailors, and civilians, rushing here and there, 
made up a scene of physical energy and exertion not 
easily forgotten. 

Among the outworks of the rebels in front of York- 
town was a lunette, so named from its curved, moon- 
like shape, which gave them considerable advantage in 
skirmishing with our pickets, and harassing our fatigue- 
parties. It was determined to destroy it. Saturday 
morning, April 26, about one o'clock, three companies of 
the Massachusetts First, and two from the Massachu- 
setts Eleventh, were roused from their slumbers, and, 
by order of Gen. McClellan, led to a point in the woods 
nearest the lunette which it was deemed advisable to 
take and destroy. The companies chosen were H, A, 
and I, under the command of Capts. Carruth, Wild, 
and Rand, respectively. The whole expedition was 
accompanied by Brig. -Gen. Grover, who had succeeded 



ATTACK ON A REBEL LUNETTE. 149 

Gen. Naglee in command of the brigade, under whose 
direction Lieut.-Col. Wells planned and conducted the 
assault. 

The redoubt was some four hundred yards distant 
from the woods, and was approached through an open 
cornfield, every inch of which was commanded by a 
powerful rebel battery. 

Companies A. and I acted as flank and reserve, and 
Company H made the charge. Ten minutes after the 
command " Forward, double-quick ! " was given, the 
redoubt was taken at the point of the bayonet, and 
the enemy were flying in confusion through the woods. 
Immediately the two companies of the Eleventh were 
ordered forward with shovels and picks ; and in less 
than an hour the redoubt was levelled to the field, and 
the work destroyed. Having accomplished their gal- 
lant exploit, our troops retired through a terrific fire 
of round shot, shell, grape, and canister, and returned 
to camp. 

The charge of Company H was made just at dawn 
of day, over an open field, every foot of which was 
exposed to battery and rifle-pit fires, yet not a man 
faltered. " Forward, double-quick," over miry, une- 
ven ground they went, in too much of a hurry to 
fire, with bayonets fixed, and determined to take the 
works, or die in the attempt. When within a few 
yards, the men raised a shout for Old Massachusetts : 
through the ditch, and up the parapet, over went the 
gallant company ; and the rebels, who previously had 
been pouring in a deadly fire, broke and fled in every 
direction. The picks and shovels of the Eleventh 
quickly accomplished the destruction of the redoubt. 

Company A was out in the field under fire, and^ 

13* 



150 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Company I in reserve if H should need support ; but 
H had nobly and thoroughly done its work. 

There were about seventy men in Company H, 
which made the brilliant charge described. They 
never fired a shot till they reached the ditch in front, 
when they fired one volley, and leaped the ditch. 

Privates Patrick J. Donovan and John M. James, 
with Orderly-Sergeant Manderville, were the first within 
the redoubt on the right, and Lieut. Chandler the first 
on the left, closely followed by Corporals John H. 
Newling and William A. Smith, and Sergeant C. H. 
Carruth. 

One sergeant and fourteen privates of the enemy's 
force were cut off by the fire of Company A of the 
Eleventh Regiment, and captured. 

Before the charge was made, Lieut. -Col. Wells ad- 
dressed Company H almost in a whisper, the enemy 
were so near, reminding them that this was McClellan's 
first order since the siege began ; that the honor of 
Massachusetts was in their keeping ; that they had 
stood by him once, and he depended upon them to 
stand by him again. 

Nobly did the men respond to his words, and well 
did they sustain the honor of the dear old State which 
sent them forth to fight under her banner ! 

As they advanced, man after man fell wounded or 
killed, volley after volley was poured into their ranks : 
but straight onward, with a rush and a shout that noth- 
ing could resist, they went, till the enemy fled, and the 
works were their own. 

When they were retiring, the rebels commenced a 
brisk cannonade from the forts to the left, which were 
not more than seven or eight hundred yards distant. 



CASUALTIES. 151 

III good order, our skirmishers retired in the midst of 
this heavy fire from the enemy's artillery. Shells were 
bursting all around, scattering dirt over many ; but 
the regiment had been so well drilled in skirmish- 
ing, that the company came in cautiously, without 
losing a single man. No one thought of running : 
on the contrary, all seemed reluctant to leave the field 
of action. 

The only drawback connected with this brilliant 
achievement was the list of killed and wounded. Wal- 
ter B. Andrews, George A. Noyes,and William D. Smith, 
of Company H, were killed almost instantly ; and Allen 
A. Kingsbury of the same company, shot through the 
abdomen, died in the course of the day. 

Thomas Chittick, Company H, was wounded in the 
left leg, below the knee ; William Grantman, received 
one bullet through the left groin, and another in the 
left thigh ; George L. Stoddard, bullet through the 
left groin ; George W. Campbell, bullet through the left 
thigh ; William H. Montague, bullet through the lelt 
leg, below the knee ; Horace A Lamos, bullet through 
the left foot ; George H. Stone, bullet through the left 
thigh, a serious, ghastly wound ; William H. Lane, 
bullet just above the knee ; William T. Wright, bullet 
through the right side, a severe flesh wound, very pain- 
ful, but not considered dangerous ; Oliver C. Cooper, 
bullet through the fleshy part of the left leg ; Stephen 
Wright, Company I, scalp wound on the left side of 
the head. Three others, William P. Hallgreen and 
J. W. Spooner of Company H, and Thomas Archer 
of Company A, were injured so slightly, that they re- 
mained on duty after the fight just as before. 

The wounded were temporarily accommodated in 



152 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

our regimental hospital, and subsequently carried to 
Cheeseman's Landing, where the best j^reparations had 
been made to receive them on board the splendid 
steamer " Commodore," and where skilful surgeons, 
Sisters of Mercy, and attendants, were in waiting to 
supply them with an abundance of every thing needed 
for their comfort and cure. The contrast between the 
muddy fields, the wet woods, the narrow shelter-tents, 
the rough fare, and hard life of the camp, and the 
spacious warm quarters, soft beds, gentle nursing, and 
constant care, on board this boat, made them almost 
forget their wounds, and bless God they had come out 
to defend a country so thoughtful of her heroes when 
prostrate and helpless. 

The dead were deposited, after appropriate funeral 
ceremonies, in a tomb constructed for the purpose, in 
the side of a hill, and on Wednesday, the oOtli of April, 
sent Nortli for re-interment. They were received at the 
depot by a committee of the Chelsea city-government, 
having with them two hearses provided by Charles 
White of Chelsea. The hearses were draped with 
American flags, and the liorses wore heavy black 
plumes. The bodies were taken to Chelsea by way 
of Charlestown Bridge. The flags in Charlestown and 
Chelsea were all at half-mast. 

It is probable that there was never so great a throng 
of people in the streets of Chelsea as assembled to re- 
ceive the bodies. A procession was formed at the 
bridge, and escorted the hearses to the City Hall, in 
the following order: — 

Police force, under City Marshal J. E. Burrell. 

Chelsea Brass Band ; J. E. Messenger, leader. 

Chelsea Rifle Corps, forty-two rifles, under Capt. A. 



PICKET DUTY. 153 

J. Hillbourn, and Lieuts. George B. Hanover and J. 
H. Perry. 

City Committee in carriages, followed by the hearses, 
and a long procession of citizens marching four and 
four. 

At the City Hall a prayer was offerd by Rev. Alanson 
P. Mason ; and the bodies were then taken into the 
upper hall, and left in charge of Hillbourn's Rifles, a 
guard of honor of eight of whom occupied the hall at 
night. 

After public religious services, they were placed 
together in the receiving-tomb of the Garden-street 
Cemetery. 

Subsequent to the assault of the 26th, the rebels 
manifested more vitality than before, keeping up a regu- 
lar fire at intervals during the day upon our gunboats, 
earthworks, fatigue-parties, and picket-reserves, and 
making night fairly hideous with the rattle of small 
arms, the roar of heavy cannon, and the scream of fly- 
ing shells. 

Picket-duty also became unusually hazardous and 
trying. The whole regiment would be roused at mid- 
night, supplied with rations for twenty-four hours, and 
before daylight marched into position but a few hun- 
dred yards from the hostile batteries. A few trees, a 
ravine, a fence, a house, barn, shed, chimney, big rock, or 
hay-stack, were all they had to shelter them from the 
enemy's shot ; and here, with every sense on the alert, the 
pickets had to watch and wait till their time was up. 
Sometimes it was cold and rainy, and the men had to 
lie flat in the mud on their faces for hours to avoid shot 
and shell. Sometimes a sudden attack was made, and 
several were driven in, surrounded, shot, or madepris- 



154 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

oners. Sometimes a perpetual fire of musketry or 
cannon was kept up from the opposite side, to which 
they responded or not, according to orders ; and some- 
times nothing transpired worth mentioning. Two 
nights' sleep were lost at the least, and no slight hazard 
encountered. 

The daily work and dangers of the men were vari- 
ous. The regular drills were interrupted ; but in- 
spections were more frequent than ever to make sure 
that guns, equipments, &c., were in perfect order. 
Work on the trenches was done by every regiment in 
succession along the whole line. Sometimes as many 
as ten thousand men were at it at once with shovels, 
picks, and spades, guarded by others near at hand, 
with loaded muskets or rifles, and saluted by charges 
of grape, canister, or shrapnel, from the rebel bat- 
teries. 

On the 29th, one man was killed and another 
wounded. The one killed, foolishly exposed himself, 
going outside to pick up a piece of a shell. Another 
shell was fired at him which took off half of his head, 
and wounded a comrade at the same time. 

While at Yorktown, Lieut. Charles L. Chandler, of 
Company A, was detailed upon the engineer corps, 
stationed with the staff of Gen. McClellan. This gal- 
lant young officer served in the First Regiment until 
August, 1862, when he was commissioned captain in 
the Thirty-fourth. He remained with the Thirty-fourth 
till March, 1864, when he was commissioned lieutenant- 
colonel of the Fortieth, and shortly afterwards trans- 
ferred, with the same rank, to the Fifty-seventh veterans. 
He fell mortally wounded in the engagement on the 



BALLOON ASCENSION. 155 

North Anna River, near Hanover Court House, Va., 
May 24, 1864, aged only twenty-four years. 

Acting Adjutant Joseph Hibbert, jun., of the First, 
won for himself the approval of Brig.-Gen. Grover, on 
account of his gallantry and efficiency during the 
affair of the 26th, and was immediately promoted to 
be his assistant adjutant-general with the rank of cap- 
tain. Lieut. Charles E. Mudge was elected to the post 
of regimental adjutant, and held it from that time until 
the regiment was mustered out of service, May 25, 
1864. 

As the Yorktown batteries approached completion, 
and one after another the heavy mortars and two hun- 
dred pound Parrott's were placed in position, the 
rebels manifested a continually increasing uneasiness. 
During the 3d of May they kept up an incessant din with 
guns of every caliber, and awakened the expectation of 
an assault along the whole line. Wishing to know 
what it might portend. Gen. McClellan made a balloon 
ascension directly in front of the First's regimental 
line. As soon as the balloon rose above the tops of the 
trees, it was greeted by a perfect storm of missiles, 
which came flying into the camp, and bursting all 
around him ; so that he was obliged to come down, and 
ride away without making mu.ch of an observation. 
During the night, the firing was kept up in a furious 
manner, filling the Union troops with wonder as to 
what the rebels were intending to do ; but about three 
o'clock in the morning it suddenly ceased. The pickets 
listened, but could hear nothing ; they rose to their feet, 
trying to peer through the darkness of the early morn- 
ing, but could see nothing. They crept slowly and 
cautiously forward, and met with no opposition. Finally 



156 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

they reached the hostile breastworks, jumped into the 
ditches, scrambled up the ramparts, — the rebels were 
gone ! 

Under cover of the brisk artillery-fire of the pre- 
ceding day and night, they had evacuated the place, 
carrying with them their sick and wounded, all their 
portable supplies and light artillery ; leaving in our L 
hands seventy-one heavy guns, with large quantities of 
ammunition in the unexploded magazines, hundreds 
of tents standing just as their troops had occupied 
them, the town of Yorktown with not a building 
burned or destroyed, and the entire line of fortifications 
from Lee's Mills to and including Gloucester Point, upon 
which had been expended months of labor, and which 
proved far more formidable than was at first sup- 
posed. The main body of the rebels had been gone 
four hours before their departure was discovered. 
Their rear-guard kept at work on the heavy guns as 
long as they dared, and then followed the retreating- 
column. It took but a short time to spread the new^s. 
Notwithstanding the incredulity with which at first it 
was received, and the fears felt in all quarters that 
it might prove nothing but what was termed " a sell," 
the evidences that came in from the front accumulated 
so rapidly, and engineers, pickets, and fatigue-parties 
asserted it so positively, that all unbelief and distrust 
of it speedily disappeared ; and then it was astonish- 
ing to see how, as by enchantment, the whole spirit 
and aspect of Camp Winfield Scott changed, and how 
ninety thousand men, released from the hazards of 
picket-duty and sharp-shooting, from the drudgery of 
trench-work and corduroys, from the silence and re- 
straint of previous wearisome weeks, from the expecta- 



RETREAT OF THE REBEL ARMY. 157 

tion of the morrow's bombardment, and the dread of the 
fearful assault to succeed it, from the whole weight and 
monotony of the prolonged and tedious siege, — became 
possessed of and pervaded by the exhilaration of a 
mighty and triumphant joy, and were ready to go any- 
where or do any thing that " Little Mac " might com- 
mand, so thoroughly had he won their confidence and 
admiration by acquiring possession of Yorktown and its 
defences without a battle. No longer was silence im- 
posed upon bands, drums, or fifes ; and from every 
direction they broke forth into patriotic jubilation, 
giving '' Hail Columbia," " Red, White, and Blue," 
"Star-spangled Banner," " Glory Hallelujah," "Yan- 
kee Doodle," " Rally Round the Flag, Boys," and even 
" Dixie," in rapid succession, while bass drums, snare 
drums, fifes, and bugles, with cheers intermixed, filled 
up the intervals. 

But it soon became evident that there was work to 
be done of a more serious and important nature. Deser- 
ters began to come in, who declared that the enemy had 
only fallen back a short distance, and were then in posses- 
sion of a better-chosen and more strongly fortified position 
than Yorktown itself. Tliey said also that the determina- 
tion to evacuate Yorktown was formed by Gens. Lee, 
Johnston, Magruder, and Jefferson Davis, who, having 
examined Gen. McClellan's parallels, and observed the 
damaging effect of his heavy siege guns, came to the con- 
clusion that the Yorktown defences would not much 
longer be tenable, and resolved to fall back without 
waiting for an assault. 

Orders were issued forthwith for an immediate and 
vigorous pursuit. Gen. Stoneman's cavalry were 
straightway in the saddle, and, with a detachment of 

14 



158 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

flying artillery, advancing rapidly beyond Yorktown in 
the direction of Williamsburg. They overtook the rear 
of the retreating column in a few hours, and immedi- 
ately forced the rebels to an encounter. Our cavalry 
charged upon them where they stood at bay, and the 
enemy attempted to hold their ground, maintaining 
for a short time a hand-to-hand conflict. The artillery 
on both sides soon became briskly engaged, when the 
rebel cavalry broke and fled. 

They were followed but a short distance, as Gen. 
Stoneman was without infantry supports, and they 
retired within the Williamsburg intrenchments. 

Meantime all was bustle and excitement in the 
camps around Yorktown. The sudden termination 
of the siege without a battle was unexpected, but none 
the less acceptable ; and when orders to prepare for an 
immediate pursuit of the enemy were circulated, they 
were obeyed with alacrity. Rations were served out, 
or left to be brought forward in the wagons. The sick 
were separated from the well, and sent to Cheeseman's 
Landing for hospital treatment. Tents were struck, 
camp property gathered together, and guards ap- 
pointed for its protection ; and, by ten or eleven o'clock, 
most of McClellan's army was in motion towards 
Yorktown. Along with the troops went a corps of 
telegraphers, putting up poles, and extending the wire 
as they proceeded, and making almost as rapid progress 
as the infantry. The roads led on the left through War- 
wick Court House to Half-way House, some six miles 
south-west of Yorktown, and on the right straight 
into Yorktown itself by the regular turnpike from Fort- 
ress Monroe. The roads were covered and bordered 
witli the debris resulting from military operations, and 



I 



REBEL MALIGNITY. 159 

the nostrils were greeted at every turn by an overpower- 
ing stench, arising from dead horses, pools of stagnant 
water, or heaps of putrid matter gathered and left to rot 
in the sun. Stumps of trees, blackened and charred 
with fire, abandoned caissons, broken-down army- 
wagons, with here and there a single uninhabited hut 
or half-ruined barn, completed a scene of unmitigated 
desolation, above which in the distance soared Prof. 
Lowe in his famous balloon, " The Intrepid," watching 
whither over the distant roads the retreating foe had 
gone. 

Arrived in sight of the Yorktown fortifications, the 
stars and stripes were seen waving from the flag-staff 
within ; and various regimental banners were planted 
upon the ramparts. Union sentinels paced to and fro 
along the parapets so lately a shield to the enemy ; 
and the huge guns stretched their iron muzzles over 
the walls as though to welcome our approach. The 
rebels, we found, with an infernal ingenuity, had thickly 
strewn torpedoes in the way before us, hiding them 
under coats, putting them in pitchers, carpet-bags, and 
barrels of flour, planting them in the vicinity of springs, 
tents, magazines, and storehouses ; and before night, 
four or five of the unwary or fool-hardy among our 
forces had been killed by them, and a dozen more or 
less severely wounded. As fast as found, they were 
marked in some manner, generally by a small flag ; and 
Gen. McClellan compelled the prisoners that were 
taken to remove them. 

To G. W. Rains, of the Fayetteville Arsenal, belongs 
the unenviable distinction of having constructed these 
diabolical engines of torture and death ; and to his 



160 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

brother. Gen. Gabriel J. Rains, the discredit of their 
arrangement about the works. 

The rebel magazines were all found in excellent con- 
dition, and most of them contained an ample supply 
of powder and ball. They had ventured to explode 
none of these, fearing it would lead to the discovery of 
their intended evacuation, and perhaps prevent it from 
being carried out. Inside the town, every thing was 
in good order, showing that it had not been occupied 
by the troops. The Nelson mansion, formerly head- 
quarters of Lord Cornwallis, rose far above every thing 
else about it ; and the ten, fifteen, or twenty feet struc- 
tures of ancient date around it, looked as they might 
have done when Judge Nelson indignantly aimed a 
gun from the American trenches upon his own resi- 
dence. Just beyond the town were several rebel store- 
houses, constructed of rough boards, but spacious and 
weather-tight. One of these, containing, among other 
articles, ammunition and shells, was burning as we 
passed it; and the frequent explosion of the latter, 
throwing fragments in every direction, compelled our 
men to give it a wide berth. In means of transporta- 
tion, it was found that the enemy were very deficient. 
They seemed to have pressed into their service every 
thing in the shape of a wagon, even to common ox- 
carts. The consequence was, that, every mile or so, 
the regiment would come across some broken-down 
farmer's wagon, which had given out and been aban- 
doned. In some of these, valuable property was dis- 
covered. 



'^M^^^c 




CHAPTER VI. 



BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. 



" I sit to-night by the camp-fire's light, 
While the dismal rain is falling; 
And in my breast beats a heart oi^pressed 
By a sense of gloooi appalling. 

The earth is red with the blood of the dead, 

Which to-day flowed free as water, 
Till the night came down with sullen frown, 

And put an end to the slaughter. 

By the turnpike wide, on the steep hill-side, 

In field and wood they are lying; 
And the air is sown with the feeble moan 

Of the wounded and the dying." — Anon. 

HAD the rebel rear not been hard pressed by Gens. 
Stoneman and Hooker, it is doubtful whether 
the battle of Williamsburg would ever have taken 
place. 

It seems to have been the intention of Gen. Joseph 
E. Johnston, commanding the main body of the rebel 
army, to fall back behind tlie Chickahominy, await the 
arrival of Smith and Whiting, who moved up the York 
and Pamuiikey Rivers to Whitehouse, and there make 
a determined stand for the defence of Richmond. But 
the rapid movements of Gens. Stoneman and Hooker 
interfered so seriously with the safety of his trains, that, 
to cover them, he was obliged to tarry during the night 
of the 4th of May in the Williamsburg defences, and 

14* 



162 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

was caught there with a formidable portion of his army, 
early Monday morning, the 5th. These defences con- 
sisted of a series of inconsiderable redoubts, stretching 
across the peninsula, from Queen's Creek on the right, 
to Achaershape Creek on the left, covering the whole 
interval from water to water, about a mile in front of 
the city. Fort Magruder formed the principal work of 
this chain, and mounted several guns capable of deliv- 
ering a raking fire over all the roads and fields ap- 
proaching Williamsburg from the south-east. Soon 
after noon, on Sunday, tli.e 4th, the right and left 
wings of the Union army formed a junction at Half- 
way House, seven miles from Williamsburg. The right 
was halted, and the left passed on ahead. The right 
followed, passing over the same road, and at nightfall 
came to the scene of Gen. Stoneman's cavalry skir- 
mish. In a church close by were fifteen or twenty of 
the wounded, some in a dying condition ; and lying 
about, in the woods and on a road leading to the left, 
here and there could be seen a dead body. 

Such of the cavalry as could speak represented 
the enemy as numerous and full of fight, but 
bent upon falling back if they were only let alone. 
That seems not to have been the policy of the 
Union generals, for they pressed on through the 
untrodden forest, and over a road full of pit- 
holes made by the retreating enemy, and did not 
halt till they had passed the first line of outworks, 
which had been abandoned as we approached, and 
arrived within two miles of Fort Magruder. The 
troops here went into bivouac at midnight, and 
slept soundly upon their arms until roused by a gentle 
rain about three o'clock. At daybreak, they were re- 



THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. 16o 

formed, and the march taken up towards Williamsburg. 
For a mile and a half the road was clear, and no indi- 
cation of the enemy discernible. Just as we caught 
sight of the open plain in front of Williamsburg, how- 
ever, there was a sudden halt ; and soon after the dis- 
charge of half a dozen rifles told us that our advance 
guard had encountered their pickets. Preparations 
were made at once to ascertain, if possible, their num- 
bers and position. A strong skirmish line was deployed 
to the left of the road, extending through an abatis of 
felled trees and standing wood, occupying a ditch in 
front of the rebel rifle-pits, and completely enfilading 
the road leading to Fort Magruder. The parapets of 
this work had been constructed so low, that, when the 
artillerists were standing upon their gun-platforms, 
nearly half of their persons were exposed. As soon as 
they began to fire down the road and into the woods, 
therefore, they became excellent marks for our skir- 
mishers, who in the course of an hour entirely cleared 
the ramparts, and kept the guns silent during the rest 
of the forenoon. The rain had continued to increase, 
and was now pouring down in torrents. 

With great exertion, a battery had been brought up 
and planted just in front of the woods to the right of 
the road. Its commanding officer and several of the 
men were severely wounded by the first fire from the 
rebels ; and this disheartened the rest so thoroughly, 
that they obeyed the instinct of self-preservation, and 
retired. Determined that the guns should not be 
silent, several volunteers sprang forward, and worked 
them without orders. The ground was soft and spongy 
where they stood ; and, the rapidly accumulating mois- 
ture making it more so, the guns sank lower and lower 



164 TII?: FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

every time tliey were discharged, until, at last, the 
axles of the carriages actually rested on the soil. In 
this situation, they were assaulted and taken by the 
enemy, but had to be abandoned and left in our hands 
again, as they could not be lifted out of their miry 
beds and dragged off by hand. 

The advantage of position during all this time rested 
entirely with the enemy. Their rifle-pits dotted the open 
held by the hundred in every direction, from whence 
their sharp-shooters leisurely picked off our men 
whenever they exposed themselves. Their redoubts 
and infantry-covers, to the number of twelve, afforded 
an almost impenetrable shield to their swarming bat- 
talions. Their artillery was on high ground, with a 
solid foundation to rest upon ; and their forces were 
perfectly* familiar with the ground, knowing the exact 
situation we must occupy whichever way w^e turned. 
At the first of the skirmishing, which was rapid and 
vigorous, the enemy retired, thinking, no doubt, that 
the whole of Gen. McClellan's army might be drawn 
up in the woods, about to make an assault. But, as 
their expectations were disappointed in this, they began 
cautiously to feel their way out, and in the course of 
a couple of hours approached the woods and abatis by 
the left oblique, crouching in ravines, skulking behind 
trees, and creeping along with the least })ossible expos- 
ure of their persons. In tliis way, during the confu- 
sion of rapid firing, amid the obscurity of woods and 
bashes, half hidden by the condition of the air, whicl) 
smoke and rain had made thick and misty, they ad- 
vanced two or three times in line of battle, and drove 
back our skirmisliers on the left to the infantry reserves, 
but received from them each time such a witherhig 



REPEATED CHARGES OF THE REBELS. 165 

fire, that they were obliged to retire in turn, and were 
invariably followed up by a stronger line of our skir- 
mishers. 

The conduct of the rebels in advancing and retreat- 
ing among our wounded and dying, was much more 
considerate and humane than we had been led to 
expect from their former treatment of them at Black- 
burn's Ford. They helped themselves to Springfield 
rifles, to cartridges, gun-caps, blankets, overcoats, 
and some clothing, without asking permission ; and 
assured our men most confidently that we were going 
to receive a disastrous defeat : but in repeated instances 
they gave the thirsty water to drink from their own 
canteens, and placed injured men in more comfortable 
positions, or where they would be out of the range of 
flying balls. 

It did not seem to be Gen. Hooker's intention to 
advance beyond the woods bordering the plain in front 
of the rebel defences, although evidently his deter- 
mination to hold this position at all hazards. At the 
same time, it was a manifest cause for exasperation to 
the rebels that they could neither draw us forward nor 
drive us backward. They had advanced three times 
in large numbers, penetrating far into the woods ; and, 
with their right half surrounding our left, they had 
sent a heavy column down to the right of the road, as we 
stood, forcing back our front, and temporarily holding 
the guns of the battery which had been abandoned. 
They had every reason to suppose, that according to all 
the usages of warfare, having been driven from the 
front, and repeatedly broken on the left flank, we 
should see that we were outnumbered or outgeneraled 
or out-fought, or beaten in some way, and fall back. 



166 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

As we were not inclined to do as wo ought, re- 
enforcements were sent for to compel us. A portion 
of Johnston's army, which had been in full retreat, was 
hastily summoned back. The exact position of our 
forces having been ascertained, two lines of battle were 
at once drawn up to attack us on the left flank and in 
front at the same time. 

Our skirmishers who had kept Fort Magruder's guns 
silent, having been drawn in to be assigned to a new 
position, the guns were again opened upon our lines, 
throwing shot and shell by the right flank as fast as 
they could be loaded and fired. Branches of trees cut 
by the flying missiles fell upon and among the troops 
as they stood or lay concealed behind trees and stumps. 
The sharp-shooters of the enemy, hidden in trees or 
behind fences, kept up a desultory fire ; the hostile col- 
umns, numbering at least ten thousand men, were 
advancing nearer and nearer ; the New-Jersey brigade 
was already engaged, pouring in volley after volley in 
splendid style, and literally mowing the enemy down 
in ranks, as a farmer mows his grass ; the storm was 
sweeping along the lines of the Excelsiors, and a few 
pattering shot among the leaves and branches fore- 
told that soon it must burst upon the first brigade 
in all its fury. And in all its fury it did come ! In 
one dense mass, through the woods and fields and 
down the road, clad in blue coats, in black coats, and 
in no coats, but most of them in broad-brimmed, light- 
colored felt hats, the rebels came, and formed almost 
within pistol-sliot of our line. Eye-witnesses assert 
that some of their regiments bore the stars and stripes, 
and others the white flag of truce. Be that as it 
may, their faces were full of resolution; and they 



COURAGE AND ADDRESS OF GEN. HOOKER. 167 

had evidently determined to decide the fate of the 
day by this assault. 

Receiving our fire before theirs was delivered, they 
were considerably staggered by it, and their line wavered 
as though the men were about to break, but, at the 
command and entreaties of their officers, they recovered 
themselves, and crowded forward from tree to tree, 
loading and firing with the utmost rapidity, shooting 
down our officers and men, making gaps in our ranks, 
which they hastened -at once to take advantage of, and 
pressing ahead so firmly, and with such overwhelming 
numbers, that at last they broke through and turned 
the flank of one entire brigade. The men were ex- 
hausted by cold and rain: they were covered with mud, 
and wet up to the waist ; some of their cartridge- 
boxes were empty ; and others could not fire because 
the charges in their guns were saturated with moisture. 
Nothing but the courage and address of Gen. Hooker 
here saved his entire division from defeat, and hun- 
dreds of his men from capture. The significant move- 
ment to the rear had already begun. At first manage- 
able, it would speedily have turned into a stampede, and 
then become a panic. The general sat upon his well- 
known charger in the centre of the road, immovable as 
a rock. Bullets were flying about him like hail, and 
cannon-balls throwing up the mud in columns. Once his 
horse was wounded, and the general was dismounted in 
the mire ; but, quickly springing to the back of another 
animal, he rode this way and that, halting the disor- 
ganized ranks, encouraging the despondent, rebuking 
the cowardly, praising the brave, ordering and implor- 
ing the men to stand as they were. At the same time, 
a line of cavalry was posted across the road with drawn 



168 THE FIIiST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

sabres, and commanded to cut down every im wounded 
soldier who attempted to pass. The regiments had 
been broken up, and even companies completely disor- 
ganized. Officers without soldiers, and soldiers with- 
out officers, stood for a moment in suspense and hesi- 
tation, but then formed, as if actuated by a common 
impulse ; and, as the rebels pressed forward to follow 
up their advantage, turned upon them like a thunder- 
bolt. Astonished, startled, and arrested in their career, 
they ceased their yells, and looked for a minute to 
see what it meant ; and then, as their own forces gath- 
ered up behind them, like the accumulating waters of || 
a mighty torrent arrested midway by an immovable 
dam, they poured in an angry, spiteful, and scattering 
fire, which made a great deal of noise, but did very 
little harm. At the same time, by command of Gen. 
Heintzelman, the bands commenced playing national 
airs, which cheered our half worn-out troops, and added 
to the bewilderment of the enemy. And, better than 
all, at the same time. Gen. Philip Kearney, and Gens. 
Berry and Eirney came up, their men on the double- 
quick, puffing and reeking with moisture, and spat- 
tered all over with mud. They were welcomed with 
tears of joy, which ran down over more than one 
anxious and battle-stained cheek, as they splashed 
eagerly along. They went upon the field as a stroiiii' 
man rejoiceth to run a race. With irresistible impet- 
uosity, but in long unbroken lines, they advanced, 
pouring in volley after volley, throwing away knap- 
sacks, overcoats, and blankets, crowding up into the 
very faces of the rebels, who now stubbornly contested 
the ground inch by inch, but forcii^g them back inch 
by inch, and allowing the weary fellows who had borne 



CONCLUSION OF THE BATTLE. 169 

the brunt of the engagement to form in the rear as a 
reserve, and see the work which they had so gallantly 
begun as gallantly completed. 

At the same time, a battery of twelve-pounder Napo- 
leon guns, brought forward with almost incredible 
labor, was planted in the road and field above the aba- 
tis, and began to send spherical case and round shot 
crashing through the forest into the disorganized ranks 
of the retreating rebels. Faster and faster flew the 
deadly missiles among them, as they withered and 
melted away under the scorching volleys of Gen. Kear- 
ney's division ; and at last they broke from the woods, 
scattered in wild disorder over the plain, formed for a 
few minutes behind the redoubts, and then fell back 
towards the town, leaving their dead and wounded in 
our hands, and the hard-fought field in our possession. 
The artillery was immediately moved to secure the 
range of their retiring forces, and prevent any at- 
tempt at a stand on their part to retrieve their fal- 
ling fortunes ; but, after a few rounds, no answer 
was returned to our battery, and the roar of battle 
ceased. 

Why Gen. Hooker's single division, of not more 
than ten thousand men, was allowed to bear the brunt 
of eight hours' hard fighting with three times their 
number of rebels, during this sanguinary engagement, 
while at least forty thousand men were allowed to rest 
on their arms, within hearing of the guns, without 
firing a shot, is yet to be explained. 

Repeated messages were sent back for re enforce- 
ments, as before noon it had become apparent that we 
could not hold our position without them ; but no 
notice was taken of the call. To the credit of our 

15 



170 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

three brigades and every regiment composing them, 
be it said, they did not yield a rod of their ground un- 
til fairly forced back by numerical superiority. Until 
one o'clock, the enemy had evidently supposed that the 
woods, whose front line was occupied by our skirmish- 
ers, were full of troops formed in lines of battle, await- 
ing the order to assault. Numerous rounds of grape 
and solid shot were directed at this imaginary army ; 
all of which were thrown away. Determined to ascer- 
tain, if possible, why we remained so pertinaciously 
under cover, they advanced in force, in front and on 
the left, with the result already described. 

During all this time, it was raining without intermis- 
sion, mud and water were knee deep ; and many of our 
troops, having had nothing to eat for twenty-four hours, 
nor slept much for forty-eight, were utterly exhausted. 
But they would not give up. They had faith that the 
enemy could be beaten, and would be beaten : in 
fact, they were determined that he should be beaten. 
In this they were fully sustained by their general and 
other officers. Many of the officers took muskets, 
rifles, or carabines, and mingled in the front rank 
among their men, loading and firing with the rest. 
In Gen. Daniel E. Sickles' brigade (the Excelsiors), 
they had a new kind of gun, mounted on wheels, that 
went with a crank, and discharged, perhaps, a hun- 
dred balls a minute. These were energetically worked, 
and did good execution. Most of the day the fight 
had been almost entirely an infantry engagement. 
Owing to the nature of the ground, cavalry was unser- 
viceable ; and until the enemy en masse were approach- 
ing, and leaving the woods, artillery had but little 
effect upon them. At that time, however, it contrib- 



1 



THE STRUGGLE ON THE LEFT FLANK. 171 

uted largely towards rendering their discomfiture final 
and complete. 

The most furious fighting of the day took place in 
the woods on the left flank, where the attempt was 
made to turn or surround our forces. From two 
o'clock until nearly five the enemy held on here, pour- 
ing in battalion after battalion of fresh men, who came 
into line with triumphant shouts, as though victory 
were already won. But they shouted too soon. With 
an obstinacy and determination that nothing could 
shake, our men received their onsets and maintained 
their own position. It was the vital point of the battle ; 
and around it pressed thousands on both sides, so near, 
sometimes, as to see the color of each other's eyes. It 
was a point we had never given up, although, in the 
conflict over it, our lines had been contracted perhaps 
one-half. It was a point we held when the re enforce- 
ments arrived, and settled it decidedly in our favor. 
Thenceforth it became the study of the enemy how 
easiest to get off. 

Meantime, upon our right. Gen. Peck, of Gen. 
Keyes's corps, had been actively engaged for several 
hours, fighting more in the open country bordering the 
Yorktown Road, and without much loss on either side. 
The enemy kept carefully concealed within his re- 
doubts until near the close of the day, when Gen. 
Hancock, having advanced his lines so, they supposed, 
as to expose his rear, they prepared to make a detour, 
and crush his forces between two attacks upon front and 
rear at the same time. The artillery, being of little 
service in such a condition of things, was hastily re- 
moved ; and Keyes's men prepared to give the enemy 
a proper reception. They came on, four thousand 



172 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

strong ill infantry, with a regiment of cavalry to follow 
up the assault. Before they had time to carry their 
designs into execution, when not over two hundred 
yards distant from our columns, Gen. Hancock placed 
himself at the head of his ,men, and, waving his cap 
ordered them to charge on the double-quick. The 
order was obeyed with a will. The men threw them- 
selves upon the enemy's front rank with such impetu- 
osity as to scatter it in every direction, while those who 
were in the rear broke, and fled for their lives. 

In the confusion that ensued, over three hundred of 
the enemy were cut off and captured, while our loss 
did not exceed in killed, wounded, and missing, one 
hundred. This decided the fate of the day on the 
right. It was fast being decided upon the left. By 
eight o'clock quiet reigned on both sides; and the 
Union troops prepared to bivouac near the spot they 
had so bravely held and obstinately defended. Never 
can the writer forget the appearance of the soldiers, as 
they stood in line in vicinity of their stacks, and pro- 
ceeded to make ready for the night. Ninety-nine in a 
hundred were young men, but they seemed in one day 
to have grown prematurely old. Their faces were pale 
and haggard ; their eyes preternaturally bright, with 
dark half-circles underneath. Still quivering with ex- 
citement, which it seemed impossible to repress ; shiver- 
ing with cold, for they had been drenched to the skin 
all day ; muddy, Hungry ; stooping with weariness, 
but triumphant, and full of talk concerning the inci- 
dents of the battle, — they hovered round their blazing 
fires, drying their clotlies, or, with the least possible 
exertion, prepared a resting-place, and threw them- 
selves upon the ground for sleep. 



. THE WOUNDED AND DYING. 173 

The wounded had been temporarily accommodated 
during the battle by tents at a field-hospital close by 
where the fight was going on. Their wounds were in- 
flicted mostly by solid shot and shell, and were of a 
serious character. Loss of blood, and the wet condi- 
tion of every thing, made them very cold ; and in every 
direction they were sliivering as if in ague-fits. Stimu- 
lants were freely administered, but they did not seem 
to produce much heat ; and finally it was resolved to 
move them to some sort of shelter. With considera- 
ble difficulty an old barn and house, two miles to the 
rear, were obtained ; and thither, one by one, they were 
carried on stretchers, in blankets, or ambulances, while 
such as could walk hobbled along painfully on foot. 
From the barn all the doors and one end were gone, 
and the house was so dilapidated that it threatened 
momentarily to fall down. 

Ere long all the floors were covered with prostrate 
and bleeding forms, to whom every attention was paid 
as fast as possible : the worst cases always receiving it 
first. An impression may prevail that surgeons are 
eager to perform amputations, and frequently remove 
limbs, which, by suitable attention, might be saved. 
Nothing could be more erroneous. During and after 
a battle, surgeons are kept so busy that they avoid 
all the capital operations they possibly can, so as to 
gain time to relieve miseries of an inferior degree. 
Only when it is a question between limb and life, or 
when the limb, if saved, would prove useless and an 
encumbrance, do they determine upon its removal. 
Frequently may be seen half a dozen or more surgeons 
in consultation while a battle is going on, and the 
wounded being brought in by scopes, to see if some 

15* 



174 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

measures cannot be devised by which limbs can be 
saved . \ 

Early on the morning of the 6th, scouts reported 
that the enemy had evacuated Williamsburg during 
the night, leaving all their wounded, besides all our 
wounded they had captured, several guns, tents, bar- 
racks, some stores, and their entire line of works, in 
our hands. Details from the different companies were 
at once ordered out to scour the battle-field, and bring 
in the wounded of both sides, should any be found. 
The field presented a sight revolting and bloody in the 
extreme. Dead and wounded lay about in every con- 
ceivable posture and condition, most of them covered 
with mud and blood combined. As the tide of battle 
ebbed and flowed through the woods and across the 
abatis, first the rebels would hold our ground, then we 
would hold theirs, consequently friend and foe were 
mixed up together, and frequently lay in death side 
by side. Many could be seen also in the same attitude 
in which they had fallen, — their hands extended, as if 
holding up a musket ; one arm raised high above the 
head, as though ramming down a charge; or a hand 
stretched out, holding forward a cap or a sword. Scat- 
tered over an area covering three or four miles square, 
dotting ravines obscure and shady, crowning summits 
bold and open, or crouched in ditches, close together, 
by the dozen, they lay harmless enough then, shot 
through head or body, and no more to battle for 
Union or Disunion. They were buried, not side by 
side, but friends with friends and foes with foes ; and, 
where it was possible to ascertain their names, their 
graves were carefully marked, and they were left to 
their everlasting sleep. It was not long before the 



WILLIAMSBURG. 175 

victorious troops, singly and by squads, were investi- 
gating the condition of tilings in Williamsburg. Being 
tlie oldest incorporated town in Virginia, — situated on 
elevated land midway between the James and York 
Rivers, surrounded by farms capable of producing 
vegetables, cereals, and fruits, in the greatest abun- 
dance, — it enjoyed advantages of soil, site, and climate, 
apparent at once. It was first settled in 1632, and 
in 1698 became the seat of the Colonial Government. 
It is regularly laid out, with streets intersecting each 
other at right angles ; and can boast some public build- 
ings and private mansions of considerable architectural 
elegance. Before the war, its population numbered 
over two thousand, a large proportion of whom were 
blacks. Most of the white people were thorough-going 
out-and-out secessionists, puffed up with an insane idea 
of their own importance, and credulous of the most 
absurd stories concerning the rapacity, degradation, 
and cruelty of Yankees. During Sunday and Monday, 
they remained quietly at home, comforting themselves 
with the belief that the Southern army could not 
be defeated, and that they could dispose of such of our 
wounded as we might leave behind after the fashion 
of Blackburn's Ford and the first Bull Bun : but, when 
they beheld Johnston's broken columns hurrying 
through the streets in full retreat, dreadful conster- 
nation seized them ; and a large number, gathering 
hastily together all their valuables that were portable, 
took to flight in the direction of Richmond, while 
others bolted their doors, closed their shutters, fast- 
ened their windows, and betook themselves to the back 
rooms of their domiciles, filled with the most dismal 
forebodings of coming atrocities, which they had been 



176 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

repeatedly assured the " Hessian mudsills " would as- 
suredly perpetrate. Finding themselves unmolested as 
to person and property, however, they ventured gradu- 
ally to come forth ; and a few silly girls and senseless 
women made a parade of their personal antipathies in 
the hospitals and on the streets, by doing every thing 
they could for the Rebel wounded, and as little as they 
could for the Union wounded ; taking special pains to 
avoid contact, even of dress, with any one wearing 
the army blue. Their folly reacted only upon them- 
selves ; for they were compelled to treat our soldiers 
courteously, or remain at home. Even their own 
friends in the rebel army rebuked them for carrying 
things with such a high hand, making them see that 
they were doing the Southern cause more harm than 
good. 

In Williamsburg, besides many empty private houses, 
and the Episcopalian, Methodist, and Baptist churches, 
were a lunatic asylum, female seminary, and the build- 
ings of William's and Mary's College ; so that the 
wounded of both sides were provided with ample ac- 
commodations. As fast as they could bear removal, 
however, they were conveyed to the hospital steamers 
"Commodore" and "Daniel Webster," for transporta- 
tion to Fortress Monroe ; where, with fine quarters, a 
cooling breeze from the ocean, the best of nursing, and , 
plenty of every thing needed for cure or comfort, they ') 
became rapidly convalescent. 

It was truly refreshhig to meet in this old and dilap- 
idated town, where nearly every thing had gone to 
seed, one prominent Virginia lawyer. Judge Bowden, 
whom neither arguments, persuasions, nor threats 
could make recreant to his constitutional obligations, 



UNFLINCHING LOYALTY IN VIRGINIA. Ill 

or force to swerve a hair from his loyalty to the Union. 
Occupying a handsome modern residence on the prin- 
cipal street, and being a well-known public man 
throughout the vicinity, his stubborn adherence to 
the National Administration made him peculiarly ob- 
noxious to the fire-eaters, comprising, at this time, the 
main bulk of the rebel army ; and once he was obliged 
to fly for his life. Several times the excited soldiery 
gathered round his mansion, shouting, "Lynch him!" 
"Tar and featlier him ! " " Hang him! " " Shoot him! " 
" Kill him ! " " Pull his house down ! " " Burn it up! " 
and so forth : several shots had been fired at it, and 
windows smashed with stones ; but generally officers 
who were personal acquaintances had succeeded in 
pacifying or controlling the mob before they had pro- 
ceeded to extremities, and thus saved him. It can 
easily be understood wherefore he wept tears of joy as 
he saw the stars and stripes borne along in front of his 
house by our victorious ranks, and why he said that 
our first volleys, on the field below Williamsburg, 
made the sweetest music he ever heard in his life. 
He openly entertained the field and staff officers of the 
First Regiment while it was doing provost-duty in 
Williamsburg ; and, though surrounded by secession 
neighbors, made no secret of his unqualified support 
of the Union. The professors and students of Wil- 
liam's and Mary's College had been scattered by the 
war, many of them serving in the rebel ranks ; so that 
no classes were in session during our occupancy of the 
town. The institution was founded in 1693, and, just 
before the war, had a president, five professors, one 
hundred students, and a library of fifty-three thousand 
volumes. Presidents Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and 



178 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Tyler were graduates from its halls; and Chief-Justice 
Marshall and Lieut.-Gren. Scott were once among its 
students. 

It is supposed to have been Gen. McClellan's origi- 
nal intention to move his army up on both sides of 1 
the James River, and assault the rebel capital on the 
north or south, according to circumstances ; but the 
presence of the iron-clad " Merrimack" in the James 
frustrated this plan, and compelled the selection of 
the York River for a base of operations, instead of the 
James. On the next day succeeding the battle of Wil- 
liamsburg, therefore, a large portion of the Union 
forces, comprising the corps of Gens. Sumner and 
Franklin, embarked on board transports at Yorktown, 
and proceeded up York River to a place known as 
West Point, where tlie Mattapony and Pamunkey Rivers 
come together, and combine to make the York. No 
doubt it would have been grateful to the commanding 
general could the fight at Williamsburg have been 
delayed a day or two, and Johnston's army induced to 
tarry until the troops of Sumner and Franklin could 
have cut across the flank of the rebel lines from West 
Point, and come down on the left bank of the Chicka- 
hominy in their rear ; but they were pressed so hard 
by Gens. Stoneman with the cavalry, and Heintzel- 
man and Keyes with their artillery and infantry, that 
they made a virtue of necessity, and fell back along 
their whole lines. The troops of the rebel Generals 
Whitney and Smith, who had retreated from Yorktown 
along the York River to West Point, before they start- 
ed on the morning of the 7th, made a feint of assaulting 
the Union position, and poured in an annoying fire 
from the dense woods where they were posted, which 



RETREAT OF THE REBEL ARMY. 179 

lasted several hours. Every effort was made to draw 
them out upon the open plain, but without avail ; and 
they were shelled out of their lurking-places by the 
gunboats, which just then opportunely arrived, while 
our forces immediately occupied the ground. The 
whole body of the rebels then fell back behind the 
Chickahominy, their left occupying Whitehouse until 
May 10, when they were ousted by Gen. Stoneman, and 
fell back upon Cold Harbor, Mechanicsville, and New 
Bridge, successively. During their retreat from York- 
town, until they were driven into and beyond Rich- 
mond, large quantities of military property, secreted 
or abandoned by them, were found hidden in barns 
under the hay, stowed away in houses some distance 
from the roads, or strewed along their line of march ; 
and every thing evinced their disheartened and demor- 
ahzed condition. From towns and villages along the 
route most of the store-keepers had fled, taking their 
goods with them ; and those who remained utterly re- 
fused to have any thing to do with rebel money. Some 
of the inhabitants told strange stories to our men of 
their individual experience, showing, that, even then, 
Jeff. Davis had begun that relentless system of con- 
scription and appropriation which robbed the South 
not only of its best young men, but also of its pro- 
ductions and resources, in a most unscrupulous and 
suicidal manner. The official list of killed, wounded, 
and missing belonging to the Massachusetts First, 
at the battle of Williamsburg, is hereto subjoined. 
Although the regiment was constantly under fire, they 
were spread over so broad an extent of territory in 
doing duty as skirmishers, that they were less exposed 



180 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

to casualty than if they had been drawn up in two 
ranks as during ordinary fighting : — 

Killed. — Company A : Private Curtis W. Grover, 
Barrington. Company B : Private James Redding, 
East Boston. Company D : Orderly-Sergeant Charles 
A. Brazier, West Boxbury ; Private Warren B. Shack- 
ley, Boxbury. Company E : Private George W. Bur- 
ditt, probably of Milton. Company F : Private William 
W. Stone, Charlestown. Company I : Private William 
R. Benson, Newton Corner. 

Wounded, — Company A : Joseph Francis, mor- 
tally ; John T. Robinson, severely ; John H. Whitney, 
severely ; Benjamin F. Pierce, severely ; George A. 
Bailey, slightly ; Charles D. Griggs, slightly ; Wm. J. 
Manery, slightly ; John Abrams, slightly ; Frank 
Getchell, slightly. 

Company B : Henry H. Brown, slightly ; Edwin G. 
Brown, slightly. 

Company C : Sergeant Amasa Johnson, severely ; 
William C. Hatch, severely ; George W. Campbell, 
slightly. 

Company D : Nelson Taylor, lost left arm ; John 
W. Fairbanks, severely; Samuel A. Fillebrown, se- 
verely. 

Company E: Capt. Clark B. Baldwin, slightly; 
John S. Wilcutt, severely ; William 0. Young, se- 
verely ; James A. Lakin, slightly ; James D. Leather- 
bee, slightly. 

Company F: First Lieutenant George E. Henry, 
slightly; Corporal George Stevens, Jr., dangerously, 
subsequently died. 

Company G : William S. Hoyt, slightly. 

Company I: Augustus P. Goodridge, slightly; Ser- 






CASUALTIES. 181 

geant Andrew Bertram, severely, subsequently died ; 
Jeremiah Crowell, slightly. 

Company K : Charles B. McCausland, severely ; 
C. W. Hathaway, severely ; Lewis Bird, slightly ; 
Harrison Whittemore, slightly. 

Missing. — Company F: William T. Leary. Com- 
pany G: William T. Gray, Samuel Bitch. Com- 
pany I : Benjamin Wheeler. 

Recapitulation. — Seven killed, thirty-two wound- 
ed, four missing, — total, forty-three. 

16 





CHAPTER YII. 

POPLAR HILL, WHITE-OAK SWAMP, AND FAIR OAKS. 

" Alp turned from the sickening sight away: 
Never had shaken his nerves in fight ; 
But he better could brook to behold the dying, 
Deep in the tide of their warm blood lying, 
Scorched Avith the death-thirst, and writhing in vain, 
Than the perishing dead who are past all pain. 
There is something of pride in the pei'ilous hour, 
Whate'er be the shape in which death may lower; 
For Fame is there to say who bleeds, 
And Honor's eye 's on daring deeds ! 
But, when all is past, it is humbling to tread 
O'er the weltering field of the tombless dead, 
And see worms of the earth, and fowls of the air, 
Beasts of the forest, all gathering there, — 
All regarding man as their prey: 
All rejoicing in his decay." — Byron, 

GENERAL GROYER'S brigade was detailed for 
provost-dutj in and around Williamsburg on the 
8th of May, and remained until the 15th. Lieut.-Col. 
George D. Wells, of the First, was appointed provost- 
marshal, and found plenty to do in the place, trans- 
ferring prisoners and the wounded to the York River, 
enforcing respect for the United-States authorities from 
the inhabitants of the town, and bringing order and 
system out of the confused and chaotic condition of 
things which prevailed immediately after the battle. 

In an old town like Williamsburg, one would expect 
to see many quaint and curious things. The soldiers, 
previous to their departure, seem to have found several. 



^"--^ t^^ 




THE CEMETERY AT WILLIAMSBURG. 1S3 

There is only space to copy the following epitaphs, 

from stones in the venerable grave-yard : — 

This, from Ms departed wife to her living husband, — 

•• Like as the bud nipt off the tree, 
So death has parted you and me. 
Therefore, dear Husband. I you beseech. 
Be satisfied, for I am rich.'' 

This, from another husband to his departed wife, — 

•• If woman erer yet did -well. 
If -woman ever did exceL 
If woman husband e'er adored. 
If woman ever loved the Lord, 
If ever faith, and hope, and love 
In human flesh did live and move, 
If all the graces e'er did meet — 
In her. in her they were complete.'' 

This, from another husband, who was inconsolable at 
the loss of liis wife, and died shortly after, and was 
buried beside her. — 

•■ My Anne, mv all. mv ancrel wife. 
My dearest one. my love, my life. — 
I cannot say or sigh fkreweU. 
But where thou dwellest. I will dweU," 

On Thursday, the loth of May. with rations for two 
days, the march was resumed ; a troop of cavalry 
having been ordered to relieve the brigade, and do 
provost-duty in its place. The majority seemed re- 
luctant to leave Williamsburg, having found their 
proximity to comparative civilization decidedly more 
agreeable than roughing it in the woods and fields, 
or bivouackius: bv the wavside. 



184 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

The march from Williamsburg was of the most 
wearisome description, and great difficulty was ex- 
perienced in keejDing the men from straggling. For 
the first half a dozen miles, all would keep up very 
well ; but as each man carried knapsack, haversack, 
overcoat, canteen, gun, and sixty rounds of cartridges, 
weighing, in all, nearly forty pounds, one and another 
would give out. It was a sorrowful sight to see them 
lagging, straggling, and almost falling down in the 
road, from sheer exhaustion ; but a sight presented 
day after day, and for which there was no remedy. 

The condition of the roads was one cause of this ; 
for they were rough and muddy : in fact, nothing 
more than ditches cut through forest, field, and 
swamp, without drainage or gutter on either side, 
into which, as to a common sewer, ran all the 
streams and springs on either side. 

In the woods, all along the road, the underbrush 
was burned by the rebels, and in places the way ob- 
structed by prostrate trees. For miles on miles, the 
charred trunks and blackened surface of the ground 
showed how careful and laborious had been the prepa- 
rations made for desperate fighting, as our troops ad- 
vanced ; but it all came to naught. We passed on 
without the crack of a hostile rifle to keep the 
troops on the alert and stragglers closer to the main 
body. 

The country through which the column moved was 
remarkable aUke for its beauty and fertility, and in 
l^roper hands might be made a Paradise. But nearly 
every thing, — houses, farms, stock, and people, — 
looked ragged and seedy ; and a new race was evi- 
dently needed to save the land from sinking into a 
wilderness. 



ABVAXCE OF THE ABMY. 185 

New-Kent Court House, about which at this time so 
much was said, was a common, six-windowed brick 
building, capable of seating perhajos eighty persons. 
Outside and in, it looked dingy, shabby, and dreary. 
The jail within a few feet of it had been destroyed 
by fire ; but the registry on the other side was spared. 
It may be a famous place for Virginia, but in New 
England would never get two looks from a traveller. 

Gen. McClellan having resolved to make White- 
house, on the Pamunkey River, his base of supphes, and 
the York-River Railroad his method of communica- 
tion, concentrated nearly the whole of his army, on the 
14tli, at Cumberland, about midway between West 
Point and Whitehouse. Resting there a couple of 
days, it then moved forward to its final destination, 
before uniting in the grand general advance upon 
Richmond. 

Along the Pamunkey were found herds of cattle 
and flocks of sheep, abandoned by the rebels in their 
precipitate retreat behind the Chickahominy ; and 
all these fell into our hands without firing a gun. 
Hours and days of valuable time were consumed in 
constructing roads through swampy grounds, and 
bridges across ravines, strong enough to hold the 
numerous and heavy trains passing over them ; but on 
the 19th, with Heintzelman and Keyes on the left, 
Sumner in the centre, and Franklin and Porter on the 
right, the whole army began to move. 

At Baltimore Cross-roads, — an insignificant corner 
containing one house and one store, each with a single 
room, and both empty, — the regiment halted a couple 
of days, and were visited by Messrs. Gaskin, Mayor of 
Roxbury, Worthington, of the " Boston Traveller," 

16* 



185 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Little and Morse, of Roxbury, and Jones, of Chelsea. 
Some opposition was made to the passage of the Chicka- 
hominy at Bottom's Bridge, but it amounted to noth- 
ing; and after crossing it late on the night of the 23d, 
and for a couple of days acting as a support for Gen. 
Naglee's brigade, the regiment marched through a 
portion of White-oak Swamp to an elevated lot of 
ground known as Poplar Hill, and went into camp on 
Sunday afternoon, May 25. 

The march across the Chickahominy at Bottom's 
Bridge was close upon the heels of the enemy ; and all 
one day the brigade lay two miles beyond in a dense 
wood by the roadside, expecting momentarily the rat- 
tle of musketry, or the heavy boom of big guns. 

Bottom's Bridge, which had been destroyed by the 
rebels. Gen. McClellan replaced by three bridges, two 
of them almost exactly like tliose which Caesar built 
during his celebrated campaigns in Gaul centuries 
ago. The Chickahominy at this spot was a mere 
creek, about sixty feet wide and ten deep, and its 
appearance did very little credit to its name and fame. 

AH about was the much-talked of White-oak Swamp, 
deriving its name from numerous bogs and white-oak 
trees with which it abounds. It was by no means one 
vast and uninterrupted swamp, but boasted extensive 
table-lands, hne farms, beautiful meadows, and forests 
of heavy timber. 

There was swamp enough, however, to make it very 
dangerous and disagreeable to the traveller, and quite 
impassable to army trains and artillery, unless over a 
road carefully pre[)ared especially for them. 

In this swamp, tlie whole of Ileintzelman's corps was 
encamped. 



^ 



DEPLETION OF THE REGIMENT. 187 

The liealth of the troops now began to be much 
affected, owing to unusual labor, heat, exposure, want 
of proper food and rest, and the malarial atmosphere 
they were compelled constantly to breathe. 

In the First Regiment, out of a thousand men who 
left Boston less than a year before, not over six hun- 
dred remained capable of military duty. Camp-life, 
hard marches, guard duty, exposure to rain and 
cold, sleeping on the ground, short rations, and dis- 
regard of the laws of health, operated to reduce our 
number almost one-half. But a few over fifty had 
been killed or wounded in battle, the rest becoming 
incapable of service on account of disease. 

About this time, Joseph Harper, of Company A, and 
Duniel W. Hale, of Company C, died in the hospital. 

Harper was taken sick with typhoid-fever in camp 
beyond Williamsburg ; and, being left behind when the 
regiment was ordered forward, he rapidly sank, until, 
in a few days, he was past all human aid. 

Hale was thrown from a wagon which he was driv- 
ing over a very rough and muddy road, causing the 
dislocation of his hip, and severe internal injuries. 
He was several times moved before he finally reached 
Fortress Monroe, where at last, too weak and ex- 
hausted to rally, he soon died. 

Many a harrowing scene of sickness and intense 
suifering did the woods and houses all along the route 
our army took present ; where single men, men in 
couples, threes, or squads, had straggled from the 
ranks, and, utterly worn down with previous sickness, 
or oppressed with the symptoms of that fast approach- 
ing, had lain down with feelings half of relief, half 
despair, to meet and bear the worst. 



188 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMEXT. 

So far as possible, they were sought, and located 
together in some deserted building, temporarily trans- 
formed into a hospital, and a surgeon detailed to 
attend them ; but occasionally poor fellows wandered 
off, alone or in company, foodless, shelterless, to die far 
from home, friends, and help. 

At Poplar Hill, the time of the men was occupied in 
daily reconnoissances in direction of the enemy, Rich- 
mond being only six miles distant, and the corps of 
Heintzelman and Keyes the only ones across the river. 
Occasionally a deserter was brought in, or a picket 
captured ; and every morning, between three and four 
o'clock, the men stood in line prepared for an assault. 
On the 27th, we heard the first guns of any direct 
assault upon the enemy's position from Gen. Morell's 
division, on the extreme right, in the vicinity of Han- 
over Court House. The enemy were here met by a 
brigade under Gen. Butterfield, and completely routed, 
who, following up his advantage, was in turn attacked 
in the rear by an overwhelming force of the rebels, 
whom he succeeded in keeping at bay until they were 
flanked on the left, when they took refuge in a 
dense wood, and fell back towards Richmond. The 
railroad was entirely torn up by our forces, six hun- 
dred prisoners captured, several cannon and numer- 
ous small arms taken, with a loss of only three liundred 
and fifty killed and wounded ; while the total rebel loss 
must have been over twelve hundred. 

This brisk preliminary engagement led to a series of 
daily skirmishes between the two armies, in which the 
advantage would rest first on one side and then on the 
other. Finally, on the 31st of May, the Chickahominy 
having been raised several feet by a severe rain- 



^1 



FIERCE ATTACK OF THE REBELS. 189 

storm, which contmned without intermission for ten 
hours, Gen. Johnston decided to attack the Union 
left. If it was a bad time for us, owing to the appa- 
rent impossibility of our recrossing the Chickahominy 
in case of a defeat, it was an equally bad time for him, 
inasmuch as the forces of Gen. Huger, upon whom he 
greatly depended, got mired with their wagons and 
artillery, and could not extricate themselves during 
the whole day. The rebels at this time had been 
largely re enforced ; and if the troops under Smith and 
Huger had been able to reach their flanking positions 
on our right and left, through the swamp, no doubt 
they would have overwhelmed Keyes, and captured or 
destroyed his entire corps. But the rain, upon which 
they depended to render the Chickahominy impassable, 
had operated more in our favor than against us. One 
of its bridges still remained ; and over this the divi- 
sions of Sedgwick and Richardson were safely conveyed 
to the field before the close of the fight, while Huger 
and his battalions were still floundering about in the 
mud of White-oak Swamp. After waiting from day- 
light till noon, the forces of Longstreet and Hill made 
a fierce and sudden attack upon Casey's division, just 
as the men were eating their dinner. A tremendous 
volley of musketry, followed by a bayonet-charge along 
the whole line, scattered the One Hundred and Third 
Pennsylvania, who were deployed as skirmishers, in a 
moment, and brought the rebels upon a line of men, 
half of whom, ten minutes before, had been crouching 
over cook-fires, or lying asleep in their shelter-tents. 
Of course the entire front was broken, and gave way 
in utter confusion. Camps, tents, stores, baggage, 
guns, clothing, were left ; and, while the enemy were 



I 



190 THE FIB ST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

temporarily checked by the plunder thus exposed, the 
line was re-formed near a redoubt in the rear, with an 
extensive range of rifle-pits on the wings. Casey's 
men forced back the rebel van upon their main body. 
But the main body came along with unbroken columns, 
receiving spherical case and canister, which opened 
long furrows in their lines, and volleys of musketry 
before which whole companies withered and sank, 
without shrinking from them, but closed up so rap- 
idly, and pressed on so vigorously, that Casey was 
compelled to fall back, after three hours' hard fighting, 
upon the division of Gen. Couch; and Couch, in turn, 
upon the divisions of Gens. Kearney and Hooker, 
which, with the exception of Gen. Grover's brigade, 
left behind to hold Poplar Hill at all hazards, were 
hastily sent for about noon. 

Heintzelman found himself confronted by Smith's 
rebel corps, which, commanded by Johnston in person, 
had just arrived on the field. Though greatly out- 
numbered, he gave them battle at once, falling gradu- 
ally back to secure a better position ; when Sedgwick's 
and Richardson's divisions of Gen. Sumner's corps 
began to arrive, and a new allignment was made. 
Just at this time. Gen. Johnston was mortally wound- 
ed by a shell, which threw the rebels into great 
confusion, and completely demoralized their left. De- 
termined to pursue their advantage, however, they 
charged thrice, with desperate energy, up to the very 
muzzles of the few cannon which could be got into po- 
sition, but as often recoiled and broke under the mur- 
derous rounds of canister which they received. Gen. 
McClellan now ordered his troops to assume the offen- 
sive, and along the entire line the rebels were slowly 



GALLANTRY OF GEN. HO WARD. 191 

forced back, leaving their dead and wounded in our 
hands. The fight continued at intervals till long after 
dark, and the Union troops finally bivouacked upon 
the ground the enemy had held nearly all the after- 
noon. 

At daybreak the next morning, Sunday, June 1, the 
three Union corps vrere ordered forward simulta- 
neously. Their course lay through woods, thickets, 
fields, and morasses. They encountered the enemy at 
the start, receiving a severe and well-directed fire, 
which was returned with a will ; and our men, loading 
as they advanced, pushed rapidly forward. In places, 
the ground was so broken, or the water so deep, that 
it was utterly impossible to keep soldiers in a line, 
and, to an ordinary observer, they might have seemed 
disorganized ; but it was not so. Waist deep in the 
treacherous bog, or separated half a dozen paces by 
the dense undergrowth, they kept pushing along. It 
was here that Gen. Howard displayed such signal gal- 
lantry. Two horses had been shot under him, and 
twice he had received rifle-balls in his right arm ; but, 
binding up the shattered limb with a handkerchief, he 
utterly refused to leave his men ; and, following his 
splendid example, they pressed on amid a din of mus- 
ketry and cannon perfectly deafening, and bore down 
every thing before them. 

The Irish brigade also, under Meagher, made one 
of their famous bayonet-charges, before which, unless 
broken by artillery, a line of battle could no more 
.stand than it could stand before an avalanche. Ditch- 
es, brooks, fences, bushes, bullets, wounds, death, 
these men, after they had got started and their blood 
was up, minded no more than a tap with a shillalah.. 



192 THE FIRST MASSAC?IUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Other men charged bravely, sternly, impetuously ; but 
the Irish rushed on rejoicingly. They really made the 
awful work of war seem, in part, mirthful and ludi- 
crous. 

The New- Jersey brigade, in the swamp to the left of 
the Williamsburg Road, encountered some of Hu- 
ger's troops who failed to appear on the day pre- 
ceding. The enemy here made a bold stand, and ap- 
peared fresh and active ; but the regular and rapid 
volleys which were poured in upon them from the 
Jersey rifles, and for which this brigade was so famous, 
made the place too hot for endurance, and they sul- 
lenly retired with the rest. 

The Excelsior brigade, under command of Gen. 
Daniel E. Sickles, was in line with the New Jerseys. 
Dissatisfied with the retirement of the preceding day, 
and burning to avenge the slaughter of their comrades 
at Williamsburg, the men were chafed and uneasy un- 
der the gradual and steady advances at first being 
made. They longed to come to close quarters. The 
order to fix bayonets was received, therefore, with an 
eagerness ominous of disaster to the rebels ; and the 
charge that followed commenced with a cheer that 
rang over tlie fields far above the roar of conflict. 
Here and there a squad of the rebels, under good 
cover, endeavored to stem the rapid advance ; but the 
main body took counsel from their fears, and scattered 
through the forest in the utmost disorder. In every 
direction, now, the day was ours. On both sides of the 
railroad, from the centre to the extremities of both 
wings, the enemy were routed and in rapid retreat. 
Down the Williamsburg Turnpike, across the fields, 
through the plundered camps of Casey and Couch, 



II 



THE FIELD AFTER THE BATTLE. 193 

they ran, without regard to organization, leaving us 
over a thousand prisoners, with a better position than 
we held before, and Gen. Sumner's corps transferred 
to and intrenched on the south side of the Chicka- 
hominy. 

The entire Union loss was between five and six 
thousand killed, wounded, and missing, with several 
thousand muskets, nearly a dozen pieces of artillery, 
and a considerable amount of supplies. The rebel 
loss in men was equally large, but nothing in material. 
The battle-field presented an awful and sickening spec- 
tacle to the beholder. At least two thousand men lay 
dead where they fell ; and four times that number of 
wounded were being gathered up on stretchers as fast 
as possible, and borne away. Five hundred slaugh- 
tered horses lay singly and in heaps where they were 
shot. Trees shot through and shot off, muskets, broken 
wagons, abandoned caissons, cartridge-boxes, blankets, 
overcoats, haversacks, canteens, knapsacks, and in the 
plundered camps, letters, paper, envelopes, clothing, 
commissaries' supplies, and quartermasters' stores, were 
strewn about in the utmost profusion. Fences had 
been prostrated, and fields laid waste ; houses emptied, 
torn down, or set on fire; roads cut up; and the whole 
country made one vast aceldama, or field of blood. 

The battle was known variously as that of Fair 
Oaks, or Seven Pines. It was called "Fair Oaks" 
from a place on the York-River Railroad, near where 
it commenced, distinguished for the size and beauty 
of its white-oak trees ; and " Seven Pines " from 
another place on the Richmond and Williamsburg 
Turnpike, where it raged the hottest, equally famous 
once for seven gigantic pines, 
11 



194 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

It was now resolved to transfer Casey's division to 
Poplar Hill, and the whole of Hooker's division to 
White-oak Swamp. 

If this movement had been followed, early in June, 
by a combined assault upon the Richmond defences, it 
is generally believed that the city would have been 
evacuated, and many valuable lives saved to us which 
the swamp-fever destroyed. But it was not so to 
be. 

On Wednesday, June 4th, the regiment removed to 
a position on the Williamsburg Road, nearly in the 
centre of White-oak Swamp. 

Tliis famous region was formed mainly by the 
Chickahominy and its branches, and covered an area 
immediately south of the York-River Railroad, ten 
miles in length, and five, at least, in breadth. 

The Chickahominy has eight or ten tributaries, 
among which are tlie Horse-pen Branch, Rocky 
Branch, North Run, and Brook Run, rising within ten 
miles north-west of Richmond, in a rough, barren 
country, entirely unfit for cultivation. In the vicinity 
of White-oak Swamp, it is a narrow, turbid stream, 
abounding in quicksands, and moving with opaque, 
sluggish current to its junction with the James. The 
swamp itself extends nearly to James River, and is 
traversed by but very few roads. The region abounds 
with vegetation ; but during the warm weather it is' 
scarcely inhabitable, owing to miasmatic diseases. 

When the army was encamped there, the entire 
region was inundated by the severe and unusual rains. 
The Chickahominy, in portions, had ceased to be a 
river, and seemed like a vast lake. The roads, in 
every direction, were little better than ditches, and 



WHITE-OAK SWAMP. 195 

were quite unserviceable until they were all cordu- 
royed. The ground had been excavated in many 
parts to form redoubts, or make lines of rifle-pits. 
The plains, during and after a rain, were one compact 
surface of glutinous mire. In dry weather, they were 
baked hard by the intense heat of the sun, showing 
only here and there stagnant puddles, covered with a 
green slime. 

Thousands of dead bodies of animals and men, 
some under ground, but more above, covered with 
from three to six inches of earth only, filled the air 
with an insufferable stench, which, with the exhalations 
rising from putrid water and decaying vegetable mat- 
ter, soon began to tell on the health of the men. 
They were also compelled to drink water in frequent 
instances flowing from brooks and streams where 
wounded men had fallen and died, or where the dead 
had been buried without proper consideration ; and 
this but added to the prevalent depression of strength 
and spirits. It seems hardly credible, but hundreds 
could attest, that the first night Gen. Grover's brigade 
went out on picket, knowing nothing about the condi- 
tion of the ground, the reserves slept upon their arms 
wherever they could find a spot, and in the morning 
discovered that their nearest companions had been 
the bloated and maggoty bodies of dead soldiers, lying 
yet uncovered where they had been shot down ; and 
that the disgusting vermin from their putrefying car- 
casses had found its way under their own blankets, or 
clothing, and even among their rations. Many and 
many a relief-squad stumbled over what they supposed 
to be the sleeping form of some soldier utterly worn 
out, and too exhausted to move, whom morning revealed 



196 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

locked in the arms of a sleep that knows no earthly- 
waking. During the hurry of battle, no attention can 
be paid to the killed, and little to the wounded, except 
by members of the ambulance-corps, or soldiers spe- 
cially ordered to convey them to the rear. Artillery 
is frequently driven, and cavalry obliged to charge, 
over the dead, therefore ; and, in one instance, the 
writer saw a corduroy road constructed over a grave, 
from which the heavy teams caused a half fleshless 
arm with clinched fingers to protrude between the 
logs, as if in solemn menace at the drivers for their 
sacrilege. In and around the White-oak Swamp 
camping-ground of the First lay bodies by the dozen. 
Black, festering, and alive with worms, it was impossi- 
ble to move or touch them ; and they could only be 
covered where they lay. During one forenoon, twenty- 
nine of these were thus disposed of, in the midst of an 
odor so rank and nauseous, that members of the work- 
ing party were obliged to go away and vomit in spite of 
every effort to prevent it. Day and night the atmos- 
phere was charged with a fetor stronger than any 
bilge-water that was ever taken from a vessel's hold ; 
and at times it became so powerful and penetrating, 
that nothing but inflexible military discipline kept the 
men where they were obliged to endure it. 

The wounds of hundreds, too much injured to help 
themselves, and upon whom proper care had not been 
or could not be bestowed immediately after the battle, 
became fly-blown, and infested with maggots, and pre- 
sented the revolting spectacle of men still breathing, 
and, if attended to, likely to recover, being devoured 
alive by worms ! Added to this was a daily routine of 
duty hard enough to break down the firmest constitu- 
tions. 



WHITE-OAK SWAMP. 197 

From the 1st to the 12th of June extensive siege- 
works were in progress, designed to accommodate the 
heaviest breaching-guns, and therefore made very 
strong. Upon these, large fatigue-parties were con- 
stantly employed. The pickets were engaged in almost 
uninterrupted skirmishing, which led to frequent day 
and night alarms, when the whole line would be called 
out at the sound of the bugle, armed and ready for bat- 
tle. Regularly before dayliglit, the men were obliged 
to leave their tents, and form under arms to prevent a 
surprise, and every third day leave camp, and take 
their turn on picket. Knowing the exact position of 
our forces, the enemy had a practice of shelling them 
daily during the forenoon or afternoon ; and all who 
remained about the tents got as accustomed to the whir 
of solid shot, the scream of shells, and the sonorous 
plunge of cannister among the branches and leaves, 
as to the plaintive and bewitching cries of quail in the 
early morning, or the saddening notes of the whippoor- 
will during the long and silent nights. Every morn- 
ing and night, to neutralize malaria, and keep the men 
strong and cheerful amid their exposures and hard- 
ships, a ration of whiskey was served out in all the 
camps. Few were sturdy enough in their adhesion to 
temperance principles to refuse it ; some endured it as 
a medicine ; but the majority received it as a matter of 
course, just as they would a ration of coffee. There 
was some doubt as to its propriety, and whether, on the 
whole, it had a salutary physical effect. Its moral in- 
fluence was undeniably disastrous ; and, if its sanitary 
administration be one of the indispensable concomi- 
tants of war, that alone furnishes a strong reason why 
war should in future be avoided. 

17* 



198 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Picket-lifo in Wliitc-oak Swamp was diversified, and 
full of incident. Some regiments when engaged in 
this duty were as quiet as when in camp. Others would 
begin to fire the moment their men were posted, and 
keep it up for twenty-four hours, until they were re- 
lieved. As a general thing, the rebels were inclined to 
remain quiet if our men did ; but they would not endure 
being fired upon without retaliation. Eeconnoissances 
in force were frequent on both sides, which for a short 
time had all the appearance of a brisk engagement, 
but generally ended by the withdrawal of both parties 
to their original position. 

Feints were not uncommon among the enemy, when 
they would approach our lines with colors flying, on 
the quick step, deliver a volley or so, and then turn off 
sharply to the right or left, repeating the same experi- 
ment there. Constant watchfulness along the whole 
line prevented them from ever reaping any advantage 
from these- attempts, even had they expected to. 

The pickets were so near together, that now and 
then, at night, they got intermixed. Two rebel officers 
were captured on one occasion, owing in part to such 
a mistake. They were out posting their own pickets, 
and, desirous of a stroll, ventured a little beyond the 
line guarded by our men. Two of them laid down in 
the bushes until the backs of the officers were turned, 
and then, instead of firing, started up, halted their cap- 
tives, and marched them inside the picket reserves. As 
soon as their absence was discovered, a furious fire was 
opened from the rebel side ; but it was returned with 
such vigor and precision, that it soon ceased, and this 
bitter dose of Yankee shrewdness and ingenuity was 
gwallowcd as quietly as possible. 



PROMOTIONS. 199 

Among the " sensations" on the picket line was the 
arrival there one day of a newsboy from Richmond, 
with copies for sale of the papers published that very 
morning in the rebel capital. His papers were easily 
enough disposed of ; but, as it was supposed that he 
might be a scout or spy, he was not allowed to make 
any observations among the camps, and before night 
was sent back whence he had come. Along certain 
portions of the line, the rebel pickets no doubt received 
instructions to be civil to our men ; for on certain 
days they were unusually social and communicative, 
offering to trade tobacco for coffee, whiskey, and North- 
ern papers, and generally representing that they were 
on short rations, and in various ways ill-treated. 

' About the middle of June, several promotions and 
other changes were made in the regiment. First 
Lieut. William L. Candler was made one of Gen. 
Hooker's aides. Second Lieuts. Charles L. Chandler, of 
Company A, and Francis W. Carruth, of Company K, 
were made first lieutenants. Lieut. Forrester A. 
Pelby was detached from the regiment, and, with Lieut. 
Chandler, appointed to special duty in the engineer 
corps. Amos D. Webster, Company D, was commis- 
sioned second lieutenant. Sergeant-major Frank Tho- 
mas, and Quartermaster's Sergeant Joseph H. Dalton, 
were commissioned second lieutenants. Lieut.-Col. 
Wells was placed temporarily in command of the 
Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Regiment, whose colonel 
had been wounded and disabled at the battle of Wil- 
liamsburg. 

The York-River Railroad, at this time in our pos- 
session, was our only reliable base of supplies. It was 
in use day and night, and worth at least twenty thou- 



200 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

sand men to our army. It should have been fortified 
and guarded along its entire extent ; but it was not. 

The rebels knew this as well as we. It was deter- 
mined in Richmond, therefore, to make a demonstra- 
tion against this road ; and, for this purpose, early on 
the morning of June 8, Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, with two 
colonels, Fitz Hugh Lee, Lieut. Gardner, the Jeff- 
Davis Troop, a six-pounder and a twelve-pounder, fly- 
ing artillery, and fifteen hundred men, left the rebel 
capital, and, proceeding down the Charlottesville Turn- 
pike, so as to make a wide detour and throw Union 
scouts off the scent, encamped that night at Ashland. 
The next morning they proceeded silently and cau- 
tiously towards the Federal outposts north of Hanover 
Court House, and by a sudden assault quickly routed 
the small cavalry force on duty there as vedettes. 
Taking such of the men prisoners as had not escaped, 
they burned their camp and rode rapidly along, over- 
hauling, plundering, and destroying several wagons 
on their route, breaking up depots of commissary and 
quartermasters' supplies, and doing the Union cause 
all the mischief in their power without giving a general 
alarm. At Old Church they encountered a squadron 
of the Fifth cavalry, but put them to flight after a 
brief skirmish, and went on to Garrick's Landing, 
about five miles above Whitehouse, on the Pamun- 
key, where they burned vessels and wagons, killed 
teamsters, captured prisoners, drove off mules, and 
spread consternation throughout the vicinity. Pro- 
ceeding thence to Tunstall's Station on the York-River 
Railroad, they dismounted, and formed on either side 
the track to capture an approaching train. The en- 
gineer, thinking the force friendly, shut off steam to 



SUCCESSFUL REBEL RAID. 201 

consult with them; but, receiving a volley which killed 
and wounded several soldiers riding on platform-cars 
to the front, gave his locomotive a full head, and dashed 
on to the Chickahominy, brushing several logs off the 
track and making good his escape. One colonel, be- 
longing to the Excelsior brigade, was taken prisoner, 
but shortly after got away. A paymaster on board, 
with one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars in 
his trunk, jumped off the train and hid in the woods, — 
coming up the next day to find his money all safe. 
Several men aimed at, within a dozen rods of the rebel 
carbineers, by a sudden duck of the head and body, 
dodged the shots intended for them, and remained 
unharmed. 

-The telegraph wires were immediately severed ; a 
detachment sent towards Whitehouse for the de- 
struction of transports, wagons, and stores, which in- 
flicted but little damage, and the main body departed 
for New-Kent Court House. Halting here till mid- 
night, they proceeded thence, by a road but little fre- 
quented, towards the Chickahominy, and endeavored 
to cross. The water was at least fifteen feet deep. 
The principal roads and all the bridges were in pos- 
session of the Union forces, who were now aroused, 
and on the alert. One after another, horses and horse- 
men plunged into the stream and swam to the other 
side. Some of them were too weak to reach it, how- 
ever, and were swept down by the current. What was 
to be done ? As they stood a moment in uncertainty, 
some person concealed exclaimed, " The old bridge is 
only a few yards above : it can be mended." It was 
eagerly sought for, and speedily found. The informa- 
tion was true. A few hours' hard work saw the repairs 



202 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

completed, and the perplexed cavalcade again in mo- 
tion. On the other side, their gun-carriages sank in 
the mire up to the axles, and their wagons obstinately- 
refused to be dragged along ; but, by doubling and 
trebling the horses and mules upon them, this difficulty 
was at length overcome and a new start obtained. It 
was now daylight, on the 15th ; and, as they were with- 
in the Federal picket-lines, they soon ran into the cav- 
alry outposts. A few shots, a quick charge, they were 
scattered or captured, and the coast was clear to Rich- 
mond. Thirteen miles only below Gen. McClellan's 
headquarters they crossed the Chickahominy, and eight 
days after they left Richmond on the north side they 
entered it on the south, having completely encircled 
the Union army, and demonstrated tlie feasibility of 
its entire isolation from railway, river, and road. A 
few prisoners, three hundred horses and mules, and 
some property were taken, and, in all, perhaps a hiui- 
dred tliousand dollars' worth of supplies destroyed. 
But the army, and, indeed, the whole country were 
startled at the boldness of the expedition, and the ease 
with which it was executed. Our generals became 
aware that they were in an untenable position, whose 
communications might any day be cut and their forces 
deprived of supplies and subsistence. Immediate ex- 
ertions were made to render the works along the whole 
line as strong as possible. Double, and, in some places, 
triple rows of redoubts were thrown up ; the railroad 
was guarded with an increased force ; connection be- 
tween the two wings established, by means of new and 
substantial bridges and corduroy roads ; and through 
forest and swamp new roads were cut capable of 
bearing ammunition-wagons and artillery. Reenforce- 



1 



THE SIXTEENTH REGIMENT. 203 

ments were called for to make up for losses caused 
by battle and the Chickahominy fever, and wherever 
troops could be spared without uncovering important 
places they were sent forward at once. From Hamp- 
ton, Fredericksburg, Newport News, and Fortress Mon- 
roe, regiments arrived ; one of which, the Sixteenth 
Massachusetts, under Col. Powell T. Wyman, joined 
Gen. Grover's brigade. 

Wednesday forenoon, the 18th of June, the rebels 
made two feints, in force, in front and to the left 
of our position. It seemed to be the universal impres- 
sion that they were coming at last for the grand final 
struggle so long anticipated ; but, just as they ap- 
proached within rifle-shot distance, they counter- 
marched, and turned off in another direction. To 
ascertain, if possible, what movements they might be 
making, the Sixteenth Massachusetts Regiment was 
ordered to go out on a reconnoissance in the after- 
noon, with the rest of Gen. Grover's brigade as a 
support. 

The members of this regiment were full of alacrity 
at the prospect of a brush, for they had never been 
under fire, and did not entertain that wholesome re- 
spect for rifle-balls and cannon-shot in motion which 
experience invariably gives to the bravest and most 
reliable veterans. After the march began, it was diffi- 
cult for the officers to restrain their men, so eager were 
they to dash on, and unearth the skulking rebels from 
their forest hiding-places. In course of half an hour, 
they were pretty hotly engaged with a body of men 
at least as numerous as their own, and some thought 
much superior. The rebels lay behind logs and bushes, 
or were hidden by trees and stumps, whence they poured 



204 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

ill a rapid fire upon our men, in plain sight, advancing 
upon tliem. The contest was kept up somewhat over 
an hour, when, by order of Gen. Hooker, the word 
was passed round to withdraw, whicli was done with 
evident reluctance and without the least confusion. 

Never did men behave better under fire than the 
soldiers of the brave Sixteenth. They were not only 
full of enthusiasm for the fray, but went into it with a 
dash, and carried it on with a pluck, whicli would have 
done honor to veteran troops. The only pity was that 
the men, scorning to imitate the hide-if-you-can prac- 
tice of the rebels, and thus fight them with their own 
weapons, exposed themselves without compelling the 
enemy to do likewise, and in consequence suffered 
severely. Two officers and five men were killed, and 
fifty-seven men were wounded. 

Directly in front of Gen. Hooker's position was a 
swamp where our pickets were obliged to remain on 
guard, and which it was desirable to leave for higher 
ground beyond. It was surmised that this movement 
might be succeeded by a forcible resistance on the part 
of the enemy, likely to renew the battle of Fair Oaks, 
and enable us, under cover of our redoubts and rifle- 
pits, and by means of rapid communication between 
the wings, to gain some decided advantage over them ; 
and it was known, if the enemy were not drawn into 
a general engagement, that we should get a better picket- 
post, and thus take one step forward on the road to 
Richmond. 

At midnight, on the 24th, orders came to the divi- 
sion to be ready at seven o'clock on the 25th, with three 
days' cooked rations in their haversacks, for an advance 
towards Richmond. 



THE FIRST REGIMENT AT THE FRONT, 205 

At daylight, every man was up ; at half-past six, the 
line was formed ; and at seven, precisely, the compa- 
nies were filing* over the field and into the woods, 
where the rebels were supposed to have located their 
picket reserves. 

This supposition became a certainty soon after eight 
o'clock, as our skirmishers came upon the outposts of 
the enemy, and began that irregular firing which xisu- 
ally precedes a sharp engagement. Very soon the 
main body of the regiment came up, and the conflict 
waxed hot. 

The Massachusetts First at this time had the ad- 
vance, supported by the Pennsylvania Twenty-sixth 
and New Hampshire Second, the Massachusetts 
Eleventh and Sixteenth being in reserve. They were 
obliged to advance through an almost impenetrable 
swamp, with water above their knees, and bushes so 
thick that not a man could be seen thirty feet distant. 
All they had to aim at, when the rebels opened fire, 
was the report and smoke of their guns. 

They were entirely without cover, also, and knew 
nothing of their location and surroundings, except 
what they were learning, second by second and inch 
after inch, while the rebels were perfectly familiar 
with the ground, and had only to aim low, as they lay 
snugly protected in their rifle-pits, to be almost sure 
of hitting somebody. 

Not a man flinched, however ; not a face turned: 
back ; but, firing and advancing, the whole line went 
forward, until the panic-stricken rebels were driven 
out of their own pits, and began a rapid retreat across 
an oat-field just in front. 

Enraged at their discomfiture, and being largely re- 

18 



206 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS BE GUI EXT. 

enforced, they came back again, and the First, not 
having been immediately supported, fell back a short 
distance, when a fresli onset was made, the rebels 
driven out quicker than ever, and the First Regiment 
continued to hold their rifle-pits, right in the face of a 
galling fire from tree-top, tliicket, wood, and field, for 
the remainder of the day. 

The attack upon this pit, where the enemy had every 
advantage of cover, rest, and knowledge of the ground, 
was one of the most daring exploits of the day ; driv- 
hig the enemy out of it twice in succession, and hold- 
ing it for nearly ten hours against every effort made 
for its repossession ; holding it with an obstinate deter- 
mination that nothing could weaken, and an entire 
indifference to shot, shell, and musketry volleys that 
nothing could remove, showed the unconquerable 
pluck and persevering intrepidity which the men pos- 
sessed. 

Col. Cowdin exposed himself in utter disregard of 
personal hazard ; waving his sword and cheering on 
his command all along the line ; mounting stumps and 
logs, to see where the enemy were, notwithstanding 
that repeated rifle-shots, whizzing by his ears, told how 
prominent an object his tall form made him for the 
rebel sharpshooters. 

Right well did his officers and men, field, staff, line, 
non-commissioned, and rank and file, second his efforts 
and respond to his commands. Never were they 
cooler, steadier, or more enthusiastic. As they 
advanced, their comrades were falling thick and fast 
around them, till of five hundred men nearly one hun- 
dred had been killed or wounded, and in three compa- 
nies not a single commissioned officer was left ; but 



REPULSE OF THE REBELS. 207 

onward they went, with tread as firm and spn^it as 
undaunted as ever. 

After the rebel rifle-pits had been taken, fighting- 
began along the Avhole line. On the right, it was prin- 
cipally with artillery at long range ; but at the centre 
and on the left, it was, till about two or three o'clock, 
P.M., mostly with muskets and rifles. 

Repeated attempts were made to flank our position, 
during one of which the Massachusetts Sixteenth and 
Eleventh, and the Pennsylvania Twenty-sixth, were 
exposed to one of the hottest fires of the day ; but the 
coming of Gen. Berry's brigade, and repeated dis- 
charges of well-served howitzers, kept the enemy at 
bay, and by sundown they were content to skulk along 
the edge of the woods, over into which our grape and 
canister had driven them, or from some far-distant 
tree endeavor to pick ofl* mounted officers as they rode 
here and there in the discharge of their duties. 

The fighting began at eight o'clock, a.m., and was kept 
up, in one or another quarter, all day. Sometimes the 
roll of musketry and the thunder of artillery were in- 
cessant. 

After nine o'clock at night, an onset was made upon 
our lines ; but a sheet of fire burst from trench, pit, 
tree, and earthwork, such as flesh and blood could not 
stand, and the Union forces were left masters of the 
ground they had so fairly won. Dear was the cost, 
however, so far as the First Regiment was concerned. 

Gen. McClellan was on the field, close by our divis- 
ion, a great part of the day, and personally directed 
one of the later movements. 

Gens. Heintzelman, Hooker, and Grover, were also 
on hand, cool, fearless, and resolute, contributing no 



208 THE FIIiST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT, 

little, by their quiet self-i30ssession, to the success of 
the day. 

Such of our wounded as could bear removal were at 
once sent down to White House, and put on board 
hospital steamers for transportation to Fortress Mon- 
roe. 

On Thursday, the 26th, our dead were all buried in 
our own camp, — mostly in strong pine boxes, so 
marked as to be easily distinguished, — and addresses, 
full of feeling, were made by Col. Cowdin, Capt. Bald- 
win, and Chaplain Fuller, of the Sixteenth. Tears 
flowed down many a bronzed cheek, and many an eye 
that the day before flashed with the light of battle be- 
came dim with uncontrollable emotion. 

The entire Union loss, on account of this affair, was 
six hundred killed, wounded, and missing : that of 
the rebels has never been reported. 

Following the action of the 25th, early on the next 
day, an assault was made on the Union right. Anti- 
cipating trouble, Whitehouse had been abandoned as 
a depot of supplies by Gen. McClellan, and its immense 
accumulations of stores removed or destroyed. This 
was unknown to the rebels. Hoping to reach them. 
Gens. Longstreet and A. P. Hill fell suddenly upon 
McCalPs position, surprising the Pennsylvania "Buck- 
tails" while on picket, and capturing several compa- 
nies of the reserve. Following up their advantage, 
they furiously assaulted McCall's line of battle, hoping 
to pierce the Union centre and divide the right wing 
from the left. After a severe and protracted engage- 
ment, Gen. Morell's division came up, and the rebels 
were driven back at every point. During the night, 
Gen. Porter sent all his wagons to the rear, thus be- 



BATTLE OF GAIN'S MILLS. 209 

ginning the movement which resulted in the occupation 
of Harrison's Landing, and fell back in line of battle 
to a position between Cold Harbor and the Chickahom- 
iny, about three miles in length, near Gain's Mill. By 
daylight, the next morning, the enemy were in sight. 
The columns of Anderson, Pickett, and D. H. Hill, 
commenced the attack. They were exposed to the fire 
of twenty thousand men, and at least sixty pieces of 
artillery, advantageously posted. The effect was ter- 
rible ; and the enemy, though tliey came on with hur- 
ralis and cheers, began to waver and retire. In vain 
tlieir officers swung their caps and swords ; in vain 
their artillery poured in round after round ; in vain 
were shouted commands, entreaties, and even threats. 
The fire was so appalling that wliole ranks went down 
under it, as though struck with lightning. The men 
would not stand, simply because they could not stand. 
Re-enforcements came up, bringing additional l^atteries. 
The fire of one hundred and fifty guns poured a per- 
fect hurricane of deadly missiles from side to side, 
enveloping the furious combatants in clouds of smoke, 
and making the ground beneath them fairly tremble 
with the din. Great chasms were opened in the ad- 
vancing lines, by canister and spherical case ; some 
regiments were so shattered that hardly officers enough 
remained to command the men. The Nineteenth North 
Carolina lost eight standard-bearers in rapid succes- 
sion. Had it not been for reserves the result would 
have been a great Union victory ; but these troops, 
coming up fresh and strong against men who had fired 
their last cartridge, and were ready to drop with hun- 
ger and exhaustion, forced them back ; and, charging 
over their broken ranks, speedily demoralized the 

18* 



210 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

whole line. At least fifty thousand of the enemy here 
fought thirty thousand Unionists during an entire day, 
and did not prevent the accomplishment of what was 
undertaken in the morning. Five thousand wagons, 
a monstrous siege train of heavy artillery, twenty-five 
liundred oxen, and all the regimental property were 
started towards the James River, across White Oalc 
Swamp. Concealed in the woods, all tliis was done 
without the knowledge of the enemy ; and when, after 
a forced march on the 28th, they came to Whitehouse, 
expecting to find an immense amount of supplies, noth- 
ing greeted their eyes but an abandoned encampment 
and smoking ruins. This opened their eyes ; they 
saw then what Gen. McClellan was about; but they 
saw it too late. It was utterly impossible for any 
messenger to proceed from Whitehouse to Richmond, 
and for Gen. Lee to re-organize his plans of assault 
soon enough to arrest the tide, then at its full, flow- 
ing across White-oak Swamp towards James River. 

Throughout the day the conviction was positive and 
universal among the rebels, shared alike by officers and 
men, that the capture or destruction of the Federal 
army, with all its accumulated material, was a settled 
and established fact; and the famous Southern Confede- 
racy, of which they had only dreamed heretofore, a fixed 
and indestructible reality. The imagined position of 
Gen. McClellan would not admit of any other conclu- 
sion. He had abandoned all his redoubts and en- 
trenchments north of the Chickahomony ; he had been 
cut off from all communication with his base of sup- 
plies at Whitehouse ; he could not control any 
availal)le line of retreat ; the Chickahomony, crossed 
only by a few frail bridges, easily destroyed, was in his 






CASUALTIES AT FAIR OAKS. 211 

rear ; the columns of Longstreet, Huger, and Magru- 
der in his front. So throughon.t the hostile camps was 
most extravagant rejoicing. The Union at last was 
broken, past all mending. The superiority of tlie 
South — not only in peace, but also in war — forever- 
more established ; and a great slave-holding, labor- 
hating, ease-loving nation about to enter upon a aa.reer 
of glory and prosperity beyond all precedent in the 
annals of time ! Behold the folly of human expecta- 
tions. While details were burying the dead, or 
attending to the wounded ; while the men were rest- 
ing, after the fatigue and excitement of battle, or con- 
gratulating each other upon the probable termination 
of hostilities within a few weeks or months, and now 
night had settled upon the scene, couriers were de- 
spatched from Richmond to get every thing in readiness 
for an assault, the next day, upon the Union rear. 

In Gen. Heintzelman's corps, at the same time, an 
order was received from Gen. McClellan, congratulat- 
ing the troops upon the brilliant results of the recent 
fighting, but requesting officers to consign to the 
flames all their personal effects that were not indis- 
pensable, and commanding that an immense amount 
of public property be disposed of in the same manner. 
The hope was held out that all private individual 
losses might be made good by the Government ; but 
that hope has thus far failed of realization. 

The following is an official list of killed and 
wounded at the Battle of Fair Oaks, on June 25. 

Company A. — Private Lewis G. Getchell, killed ; 
Captain Edward A. Wild, shot in the hand ; Sergeant 
Frederic E. Dolbeare, shot in the arm; Charles D. 



212 TEE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Griggs, shot in the legs ; James A. Munroe, shot in 
the leg ; Emerson W. Law, shot through the arm ; 
Horace E. Whitfield, shot in the finger ; George W. 
T. Conant, shot in the side and shoulder ; Charles A. 
Dwyer, shot in the left hand ; John C. Ready, shot in 
the shoulder, died of his wounds ; Andrew J. Wash- 
burn, contusion. 

Company B. — Second Lieutenant Henry Parkinson, 
jr., shot through the right thigh ; Second Lieutenant 
Joseph H. Dalton, shot in the right breast ; Sergeant 
James Armstrong, shot in both arms ; Corporal Wil- 
liam H. Fletcher, shot in the right arm ; John A. 
Beyer, shot in the left hand ; George W. Lovejoy, shot 
in the left hand ; George C. Cook, shot in the right 
arm ; Thomas E. Collins, shot in the left leg ; Richard 
Downing, shot in the left arm and right knee ; Daniel 
Goodwin, shot in the left arm; James Quinn, shot in 
the abdomen ; John B. McKay, shot in the head. 

Company C. — Benjamin Goodspeed, shot through 
the arm ; Elbridge Fisher, shot in the hand ; James 
G. Harrington, shot in the neck ; Thomas Meagher, 
shot in the arm. 

Company D. — Hector Ingraham, killed ; William 
C. Manning, contusion left arm ; Parker Goodwin, 
shot in the foot ; William H. H. Whall, shot in the 
hand and breast. 

Company E. — Corporal Horace 0. Blake, killed ; 
WiUiam B. Gaskins, killed ; George 0. Baxter, killed ; 
Corporal William Kelren, shot in the shoulder ; George 
E. Dillaway, shot in the neck ; John Taylor, shot in 
the head. 

Company F. — William H. Appleton, shot in the arm 
and side ; John D. Thwing, shot in the ankle. 



CASUALTIES AT FAIR OAKS. 213 

Company G. — Henry G. Whitten, killed ; Corporal 
George B. Roberts, lost a finger ; Michael Carlin, shot 
in the leg. 

• Company H. — Captain Sumner Carruth, shot in 
the arm. 

Company I. — Second Lieutenant Frank Thomas, 
lost an arm ; Sergeant James Finney, shot in the 
thigh ; Corporal Charles E. Ferguson, shot in the 
head ; Gardner Kimball, shot in the hand ; Isaac 
Clark, shot in the arm ; Warren H. Gardner, severe 
wound in the face ; Nicholas S. Hall, shot in the side ; 
William Murray, shot in the hand ; Wentworth Wil- 
son, shot in the leg; William W. Bradly, slightly 
wounded. 

Company K. — Corporal George L. Richardson, 
killed ; Private Thomas L. Moran, killed ; Private 
George H. Stillings, killed ; Captain A. G. Chamber- 
lain, shot in the mouth ; Sergeant John H. Holden, 
shot in the left arm ; Frank Bouvard, shot in the right 
arm ; William Long, shot in the left breast ; John J. 
Powers, shot in the right thigh ; Frank Partridge, shot 
in the hand ; James Finerty, shot in the left arm ; 
Thomas K. Jones, shot in the left breast. 

Recapitulation : Nine killed, fifty-five wounded. 




CHAPTER VIII. 

GLENDALE, AND MALVERN HILL, 
FIRST AXD SECOND. 

" Freemen up I The foe is nearing I 
Hanghty banners high unreartng ; 
Lo, their serried ranks appearing ! 

Freemen on I The drums are beating ! 
WU] you shrink from snch a meeting ? 
Forward I Give the hero greeting I 

From TOUT hearths and homes and altai^, 
Backward hurl your proud assaulters : 
He is not a man who falters. 

Hush ! The hour of fate is nigh 1 

On the help of God rely 1 

Forward I We will do or die ! "' — G. Ha^iiltox. 

THE morning of Sunday, June 29. was spent by 
Gen. Hooker's division in " cheerfully submit- 
ting'' to the various trivial sacrifices of personal pro- 
perty they were called upon to make, comprising 
trunks, apparel, mess-chests, mattresses, cami>stools, 
tent-furniture, <tc. ; and in smashing up generally 
whatever might be serviceable to the enemy. Cook- 
ing-utensils were broken or perforated ; tents cut 
m tatters from end to end ; tables, chests, chairs, 
desks, and bedsteads, split open or broken to pieces. 
It was a carnival of destruction. The regiment was 
then marched out to the front, with orders to hold a 
redoubt at the right of tlie Williamsburg Road, until 
the division fell Vjack. The morning was damp, and 



1. #4*"^ '"&'"? 




DESTRUCTIOX OF THE RAILKOAD TR-UN. 



DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. 215 

just then, as by a special dispensation of Providence, a 
thick fog came up which entirely hid our operations 
from the enemy. Their pickets were within less than 
a thousand paces, but not a movement could they see ; 
and we were left entirely unmolested until every re- 
doubt had been abandoned, all the guns drawn off, and 
the roads by which pursuit must be made blocked up 
with heavy trees felled across them by the pioneers. 
The camps, woods, and fields were covered with the 
debris of military supplies. Thousands of our best 
muskets lay around with their stocks shattered, barrels 
bent, or locks jammed in ; tons on tons of ammuni- 
tion, piled up and set on fire, or spilled into running 
water; barrels of beef and pork, of coffee, sugar, 
beans, and rice, poured out and trampled over ; boxes 
of clothing and equipments which had never been 
worn, blankets, overcoats, tents, accoutrements, thrown 
aside in heaps ; molasses, vinegar, tea, flour, whiskey, 
cartridges, vegetables, mixed up in gutters by the road- 
side ; standing tents and artificial bowers by the dozen 
burning and crackling in every direction ; immense ac- 
cumulations of hard-bread, rising by the thousand 
boxes to the height of thirty or forty feet, and fifty or 
eighty feet square at the base, blazing fiercely ; books, 
papers, accounts, blanks, and sutler's goods, to be had 
for the taking : — such was the spectacle attending the 
commencement of that grand strategic movement to- 
wards James River, from the right and centre of the 
Army of the Potomac, which excited such universal 
interest, and provoked so much controversy at the 
time of its occurrence. 

At noon, while the brigade occupied an admirable 
position close by one of the York-River railroad 



216 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

stations, called Savage's Station, the enemy came in 
sight. A considerable number of sick soldiers, with 
a few wounded, and here and there one that was the 
worse for liquor, had been left behind in the aban- 
doned camps, all of whom fell into rebel hands and 
were sent back to Richmond. 

The roads were obstructed by fallen trees, corduroys 
torn up, and bridges destroyed, so that the hostile ad- 
vance was necessarily slow. At Savage's Station had 
been the headquarters of Gen. McClellan, the Sanitary 
Commission, and the principal departments ; and here 
was the largest hospital in the army, crowded with in- 
mates, many wounded, but more sick with Chicka- 
hominy fever, some dying, and some dead. Prostrate 
in tents or sheds, they soon heard tliat the troops were 
falling back, and were filled with uncontrollable eager- 
ness to avoid being captured, or exposed to all the 
dangers of a battle without the ability to participate 
in its duties. Pale, trembling, tottering, they rose by 
the dozen from their sick beds, and besought wagoners 
or ambulance drivers to take them aboard, or fol- 
lowed feebly the direction of the retreating columns 
towards White-oak Bridge. Meantime the rebels had 
drawn up a battery on the Union right, which opened 
the fight by a few well-directed rounds, but was quickly 
silenced and compelled to retire. Skirmishers then 
appeared in front, and soon a line of battle emerged 
from the woods at point-blank range. Every inch of 
the ground was commanded by our guns, which poured 
such a destructive fire into their ranks that they fell 
back without waiting for a second volley. They tlien 
tried the flanks, but, finding that every precaution had 
been taken in that direction, seemed at loss what to do. 



CONTINUED RETREAT OF THE ARMY. 217 

Finally, determined to attempt something, and seeing 
that our men were steadily and regularly falling back, 
they massed their troops and moved forward to the 
assault. From the whole line, including several guns 
half masked, in a position allowing an enfilading fire, 
they received repeated discharges at such a disadvan- 
tage that at last they retired to the woods, and until 
nightfall contented tliemselves with irregular and scat- 
tering volleys, backed by rounds of artillery, whose 
shot and shells plunged harmlessly into the banks of 
impenetrable redoubts or ricochetted angrily over the 
open plain. A considerable number of prisoners were 
captured, some of whom were taken along ; but the 
majority were left with our own dead and wounded 
upmi the field. At least fifteen hundred of the enemy 
were killed and wounded during this engagement, 
while our own losses did not i^ach one-seventh of that 
number. The First Regiment supported battery K, 
Fourth United-States Artillery, and guarded a portion 
of the railroad beyond the station, all the afternoon, 
and were not molested. The troops were kept con- 
stantly in motion, without hurry or panic, marching 
by column of regiments, and countermarcliing again 
if along any portion of their line the enemy appeared 
in force. Surprise was therefore impossible, and, after 
trying the line at all points that could be readied with- 
out making the desired impression, soon after dark 
the firing ceased. All night long the retreat continued. 
The roads were crowded witli soldiers, horses, cattle, 
wagons, and batteries ; and before daylight the opposite 
bank of White-oak Creek had been reached, the bridges 
were destroyed, and cannon posted commanding all 
the fords. It was a great oversight on the part of the 

19 



218 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

enemy, tliat, with cavalry or flying artillery, they did 
not follow up our rear at night, and on the night of the 
29th especially, of all nights the most critical for our 
supply-trains, cattle, and batteries. Beyond White-oak 
Bridge, particularly if our infantry was held firmly 
along the swamp, they were comparatively safe. 

This point was reached, passed, and held in force by 
our batteries; and such good time had been made, that 
the enemy did not appear upon our rear and flank 
until noon of the next day. Many of our troops had 
been drawn up in line of battle, waiting for them since 
morning. At twelve, they were seen covering the crest 
of Poplar Hill, which had been our former camping 
ground, advancing so as to overtake our rear. They 
had no sooner arrived within cannon-shot than they 
were admonished by nearly fifty guns not to come any 
farther. Immediately planting their own batteries in 
front of the position, they commenced a furious can- 
nonade, answering us with gun for gun, under cover 
of which their infantry repeatedly attempted to cross 
the stream, but were driven back each time with seri- 
ous loss. 

Below, the stream was too wide and deep to allow a 
passage, and above, the ground was heavily wooded, 
and swampy, so that nothing was left for them but to 
hold the hill, and give and take to the best of their 
ability. This they did until long after dark. The fire 
of nearly one hundred guns made an almost continu- 
• ous roar, which reverberated through the woods, and 
echoed along the roads as far as Turkey Bend on the 
James River. A large number of horses were killed, 
several wagon-teams stampeded, and a few guns dis- 



DESPERATE STRUGGLE. 219 

mounted ; but the loss of men in killed and wounded 
was comparatively slight. 

Simultaneously with the assault of Stonewall Jack- 
son's forces from Poplar Hill, the men of Longstreet's, 
A. P. Hill's, Huger's, and Magruder's columns, com- 
menced the passage of White-oak Swamp by the Charles 
City Road. It was the determination of these generals 
to penetrate the Union lines, and cut off our retreat. 
Miscalculating the time when the assault should have 
been made, or unable, on account of their artillery, to 
get through the swamp any sooner, they did not 
approach the vicinity of our pickets until late in the 
afternoon. As if to make up for lost time then, how- 
ever, they came on through field and wood, closed in 
mass, almost on the double-quick. The Union forces 
had been resting for several hours, and moreover had 
chosen a position which afforded considerable advan- 
tage for the use of heavy guns, and received them 
with such a destructive fire as threw them at once 
into great disorder. Following up their advantage, 
the Union troops charged upon them ; and the entire 
line would have been routed, had not Gen. Lee called 
up all his reserves. Another advance was attempted ; 
but the position had been so well chosen, and the fire 
of the Union forces was so galling, that the oldest vete- 
rans quailed before it. It was simply impossible to 
stand in such a situation. Whole ranks of men were 
hurled to the ground as fast as they formed and at- 
tempted to advance. At first the Union soldiers did 
not endeavor to follow them as they retired, but 
allowed them to re-form at their leisure, and try it 
again. The moment their lines appeared in the recess- 
es of the woods, however, or across the borders of the 



220 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

fields, fire blazed from thirty thousand muskets, and 
leaped from the muzzles of at least fifty pieces of artil- 
lery. The roll of repeated volleys, the rapid reports 
of tlie batteries, the crash of solid shot through 
the trees, and the clatter of canister and spherical 
case striking against trunks and branches, mingled 
with the yells of the combatants and the cries of 
the wounded, in one deafening and terrific uproar, 
appalling alike to ear and heart. It seemed to have 
been settled and decided by the rebel leaders that they 
must break through our lines at this point if it cost 
them every man in their army; yet after hours of 
fighting, with every disadvantage, and at serious loss, 
they had not gained an inch of ground. The narrow 
space of the battle-ground was covered with their dead 
and wounded ; darkness was creeping through the 
woods ; our lines had been re-enforced and extended ; 
the rebels began to fear a flank movement, with its 
dreaded accompaniment of an enfilading fire ; and all 
their confidence oozed away : they became demoralized, 
and turned back. 

During one of their attacks, the Sixteenth Mas- 
sachusetts Regiment was fiercely assailed, and Col. 
Wyman their commander killed, while scores of his 
brave men were left wounded and helpless on the field. 
As they went on to a fence fronting the rebel centre, 
they became mixed up with the First, and for a time 
both battalions fought together side by side. The 
brigade was then formed for an advance ; and Gen. 
Grover in person led them forward into the forest. 
They had gone but a few hundred rods when they en- 
countered three regiments, one on either flank dressed 
in blue, and one in front dressed in gray. Supposing 



GEN. GROVER'S BRIGADE ENTRAPPED. 221 

that the flank regiments were Federals, they continued 
to advance, when a terribly destructive fire was poured 
in upon them from the front and both sides. 

The regiments in blue were rebels dressed in our 
uniform. The fire was returned without waiting for 
orders; but to remain there was certain death, and 
Gen. Grover gave the command to get out as soon as 
possible. How any succeeded in doing so is a marvel ; 
for bullets were flying about by the thousand, and men 
were dropping in dozens. The woods were so full of 
smoke, that it seemed like a thick fog. Branches of 
trees, cut off by the flying shot, were falling to the 
ground on all sides. Surprise, confusion, uncertainty, 
prevailed among the men for a moment : they had 
been entrapped, and were in danger of being captured, 
as, had the rebel regiments on their flanks advanced, 
they might have been ; but, before there was hardly 
time to think, they were out of it. How it was done, 
some of them who were in the midst of the fighting 
find it hard to say, the excitements of such a situation 
and experience are so absorbing. But done it was ; 
and in a few moments, with a loss of nearly seventy 
killed, wounded, and missing, they were in their old 
position again. 

Meantime, orders had been sent back to Stonewall 
Jackson to cover the rebel rear, should they be obliged 
to fall back to Richmond ; and, according to the testi- 
mony of one of their own officers, directions were 
intrusted to a courier from Gen. Lee to get the public 
property in Richmond ready for removal in case we 
should advance. All the confidence of the previous 
few days had disappeared from the rebel ranks. In 
place of a foe dispirited, demoralized, exhausted, and 

19* 



'2-22 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS BEGIMENT. 

ill full retreat, they found closed ranks of stubborn 
fighters, contesting every inch of ground they yielded, 
and falling back with the coolness and deliberation of 
perfect self-control ; they found every portion of the 
line guarded with sleepless vigilance, and defended with 
unyielding determination ; they found, too, that the 
stores, the wagon-train, the herds of cattle, and the 
immense war material they had calculated upon cap- 
turing so easily, had been destroyed, or removed to the 
rear, and they could not get at it, fight as hard as they 
might ; and they found, worst of all, that the losses 
of men in their weary, depleted, worn-out columns, 
whose mangled bodies, thrown in masses so uselessly 
against our well-served batteries, strewed every rod of 
ground from Fair-Oaks Station for seventeen miles 
round to Turkey Creek, had been so serious, that, if 
the fighting continued many days longer, they would 
have hardly the skeleton of an army left. 

The gloom occasioned by these discoveries spread 
from the officers to the men, and from the men to the 
hangers-on ; and when, with victorious shouts at vari- 
ous portions of the line, our forces began to advance, 
it completed the moral prostration of the day. Team- 
sters first began to fall back, lashing their animals into 
a run over the uneven roads, and making a furious 
uproar with their lumbering vehicles as they jumped 
from stump to stump or hole to hole. Ammunition, 
hospital, supply trains, all cauglit the infection, and 
spread it as they proceeded ; until at last even the 
battery drivers yielded to it, and rode away upon the 
keen jump, anxious only to get beyond the reach of 
danger as speedily as possible. At last, half reluc- 
tantly, but with obstinate resolution upon their faces, 






INTREPIDITY OF A REBEL GENERAL. 223 

the infantry, too, moved back. Old soldiers, who had 
been fighting ever since the war broke out, and to 
whom a defeat was bitterer than gall and wormwood, 
and raw recruits, half bewildered by the awful scenes 
of passion and carnage through which for a week they 
had been passing, choked the roads and paths leading 
to the Williamsburg Turnpike, and despite the out- 
cries, commands, and expostulations of their officers, 
moved away from the front. 

In a few moments. White-oak Swamp would have 
been the scene of a far greater panic to the Rebels 
than that of Bull Run was to the Federals, because 
its treacherous bogs and wide-spread morasses would 
have allowed no extrication to artillery or wagon trains 
sufficiently expeditious to save them from capture. 
But, during those few moments, it was shown how 
much one fearless and determined soul can do to 
check disaster, and snatch salvation from the very 
jaws of death. 

A prominent rebel general gathered what troops he 
could, who would stand by him, and, forming them 
hastily in the woods, moved forward towards the front, 
flaming still with the devouring fires of battle. All 
men of heart stood still as they saw him coming, and 
then joined with him to save the day, or die in its loss. 
It was but a forlorn hope ; but there was hope in it, 
if there were hope anywhere : so they turned back. 
Where they made their final stand was disadvantageous 
land for regular assaults in line, so the combatants 
stood there, pouring their shots into each other's 
bosoms, and, in some cases, engaging in personal con- 
flicts with bayonets, swords, knives, or clubbed mus- 
kets. The Union soldiers had already advanced farther 



224 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS BEGIMENT. 

than they had been commanded to. Their orders had 
been only to prevent the rebels from breaking through 
to the road. Not only had they done this, but had 
driven back the enemy several hundred yards. There, 
even after they rallied and frantically endeavored to 
regain what they had lost, they kept them ; and though 
the solitudes of the forest were lighted up till nearly 
midnight with the flashes of their guns, as they endeav- 
ored repeatedly to displace our ranks, the endeavor 
was futile and finally abandoned : they posted their 
pickets, fell back, and gave up the battle-ground to 
surgeons, stretcher-bearers, and ambulances. All night 
long our men who were left behind heard their shouts 
and outcries, mingled with the groans of the dying, 
and the calls of the wounded for water and help ; and 
all night long saw the glimmer of their candles and 
lanterns as they stumbled about in search of the in- 
jured, or removed prominent officers, as was their cus- 
tom, from the heaps of common dead. 

No sooner had darkness covered the earth than the 
Federal army began its movement towards James 
River again. Before morning, the rebels had been left 
almost entirely in their rear ; and the whole wagon- 
train was parked along the James, under the^'uns of 
the ''Galena" and "Mahaska," which had taken posi- 
tion upon our left flank. The rebel divisions of Gens. 
Wise and Holmes had made an attack upon Gen. Por- 
ter's corps, near Malvern Hill, during the afternoon of 
the 30th, but having been hastily summoned to the 
assistance of Gens. Longstreet, Hill, and Huger, when 
they were so hard pressed, had afforded just the oppor- 
tunity desired by Gen. McClellan to establish his com- 



THE POSITION AT MALVERN HILL. 225 

munications with the gunboats and transports on the 
James, and thus obtain a new base of supplies. 

A finer position than that afforded by Malvern Hill 
for defensive purposes could not be desired, nor even 
imagined. From the river to its extreme limit on the 
right, it was three miles or three and a half; and 
nearly the whole of this distance the top of the hill 
was level, and descended to the open fields in front by 
a gradual depression of the land, almost as smooth 
and regular as the glacis of a fort. Upon and around 
this, batteries, including the siege-train, were advan- 
tageously posted ; and, sweeping along in tlie rear, the 
various divisions of infantry occupied a semicircular 
line of battle two miles and a half in front. 

By experienced military men, it was hardly believed 
that the rebels would be so fool-hardy as to assault us 
again in such an advantageous position ; and, as the day 
wore away, this belief gained ground. It was known 
that they had suffered fearfully in men and material, 
and that their troops must be about worn out with the 
marching and fighting of the previous six days. It 
was supposed that they knew of the arrival of our gun- 
boats on the James ; for the opposite side of the river 
was in their possession, and in constant communica- 
tion with Richmond, and it was incredible that they 
would approach Malvern Hill, so fortified as we had 
made it, and presenting the most formidable line of 
batteries they had ever attempted to carry. But after 
a few scattering cannon-shots about noon, to ascertain 
the range, at four o'clock in the afternoon the rebel 
divisions began to form in front of and within the 
woods, in plain sight of our lines. As regiment after 
regiment wheeled into position, with banners flying, 



226 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

and bayonets glittering in the sun, our men fairly 
pitied them, for they knew what must be the result. 
Gen. McClellan had personally superintended the loca- 
tion of his forces, so that not a shot might be lost. 
Gen. Keyes was on the extreme right. Gen. Franklin 
next ; then Gen. Sumner's corps, embracing Richard- 
son's and Sedgwick's divisions ; afterwards Heintzel- 
man, with Hooker, Kearney, and Couch ; and on the 
left, Gen. Fitz John Porter, with Morell's division and 
the regulars. All told, there were fifty thousand men, 
most of whom had been resting from ten o'clock in 
the morning until four in the afternoon. 

The artillery opened first on both sides ; but, as the 
enemy used wholly field-guns, most of their shot fell 
short, while the thirty-two and hundred pound shells 
from our siege pieces and gunboats struck in the very 
midst of their battalions, causing them to waver and 
tremble even before they began to advance. Whether 
it was this that made Magruder eager to press forward 
without reconnoitring our lines with sufficient care, or 
whether he supposed we were weakest on the left, is 
not known ; but for some reason or other, most unfor- 
tunate to him, he directed his assault first towards 
the left wing, which was the strongest part of the 
whole line. As they advanced, the men were exposed 
to a fire in front and on the left flank from our posted 
artillery, while the right was pierced through and 
through by heavy shells from the gunboats. Column 
after column was marched up towards the slope of the 
hill, only to be thrown into complete disorder, and scat- 
tered into little knots and squads of men, making for 
the rear with the utmost speed. Whole ranks were 
mowed down in winrows, and melted away under the 



THE BATTLE AT MALVERN HILL. 227 

driving storm of missiles hurled against them with in- 
credible rapidity. Still, as it now became apparent 
that Magruder's object was to gain our rear, hold the 
only remaining road open to our retreat, and thus cap- 
ture or cripple the entire army, the columns of the 
enemy were pressed up in tumultuous masses against 
the left ; and still in battalions and brigades they were 
torn asunder, riven in twain, and sent reeling and tot- 
tering back again across the plain. The left having 
been re-enforced during a momentary lull in the 
firing, the defenders of the hill became, in turn, the 
assailants, and, rushing down with fixed bayonets 
upon the disconcerted masses of the enemy as they 
were endeavoring to rally and make a renewed stand, 
repulsed them at all points with terrible slaughter, and 
drove them headlong back into the woods. Scattered 
all along the line of their advance and retreat were 
guns, colors, wounded, dying, and dead; the latter ly- 
ing, in some places, in heaps, one on top of another, 
where they had fallen under rounds of canister and 
spherical case from our batteries, or torn all to pieces 
by the terrific explosion of shells from the gunboats. 

The commanders of these vessels could not see the 
ranks of the enemy, and so were not left to the deci- 
sion of their own observations and judgment in the 
management of their pieces. Members of the signal 
corps from the tops of high trees or houses informed their 
lookouts of the position of the enemy, and thus ena- 
bled them to direct their fire with unerring accuracy 
and frightful effect. After the first repulse, the enemy 
brought out several batteries of field-pieces, and com- 
menced a furious cannonade of Porter's lines, to 
which the artillery in front of Couch and Heintzelman 



228 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

responded with the heavy siege-guns in the rear, disa- 
bling some of their carriages, killing many of their 
men and horses, and making the place so hot that it 
was untenable. 

Just before the sun went down, a final, desperate 
attempt was made to attain the grand object now about 
to be lost forever, and, if it were possible, at any cost 
to gain the Union rear. Gunpowder had been mixed 
with whiskey, and the fiery potation distributed freely 
throughout the rebel rank and file ; and, simultane- 
ously with the commencement of a terrific cannonade, 
the rebel lines were pushed forward out of the woods 
once more, and over the fields fronting the hill. They 
came on, this time, a little to the left of their former 
direction of approach, yelling and bounding forwards 
as if determined to succeed. But again they were 
doomed to a bitter disappointment ; again their lines 
were furrowed and rent in two by the fire of our artil- 
lery ; and again the hundred-pound shells of the gun- 
boats, redirected from the signal stations, went shriek- 
ing through the air over our heads, and burst with 
thundering reverberations, which momentarily rose 
above every other sound upon the battle-field, in the 
very midst of their divisions and brigades. 

They were not content now to remain in one posi- 
tion, but, having assaulted the left unsuccessfully, 
approached next the centre, and so went on round 
almost to the extreme riglit. There were, however, 
no weak spots. Whatever point they approached 
flamed in patriotic anger, and hurled them back smit- 
ten and discomfited. For nearly two hours, they ran 
head foremost against the storm, until our gunners, 
out of shot, put in stones, and cut the chains off their 



THE REBEL ATlMY ROUTED. 



229 



harnesses for charges to their guns, or knocked down 
the most forward among them with their rammers, as 
they rushed on the batteries. Everywhere they were 
foiled, slain, wounded, beaten back. 

In one portion of the line, where Gen. Couch had 
the immediate command, he planted the colors of his 
former regiment, while the conflict was at its height, 
exactly where he wanted to have them held, and told 
his troops those flags must stay there, and they must 
stay there to maintain them. His commands were 
obeyed to the letter ; for, through the whole of that 
sanguinary conflict, there they fluttered in the breeze, 
and^not an inch of the alignement was lost. While 
the struggle was at its height, and the enemy were 
crowding around the circumference of the blazing 
semicircle, fiercely endeavoring to break through, it 
was a thrilling spectacle to see infantry and cavalry 
moving amid the bursting shells, solid shot, and fleecy 
masses of gunpowder-smoke, which momentarily hid 
them from view, across the inside, to strengthen every 
part which seemed in the least to waver or recoil. 
Thus the battle raged until the sun went down ; and 
then, as the enemy seemed overwhelmed with despair, 
or stricken with paralysis, they were charged upon at 
several points, and completely routed along the entire 
line Rapidly as possible they retired into the woods, 
and along the Charles-City Road, leaving to the Union 
army an undisputed line of march to the James River. 
Had they been vigorously pursued, there is little doubt 
that a panic would have broken out among their dis- 
heartened and exhausted forces, and that, m a tew 
days more, Richmond would have been entered, by our 
victorious army ; but as this was not in the estab- 



20 



230 THE Fin ST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

lished plan, and as the commanding general was not 
inclined to be venturesome, and exchange a certainty 
for an uncertainty, the order was given to fall back at 
once, sending the disabled, all the wagons, the bag- 
gage and cattle ahead, and to rendezvous at Harrison's 
Landing, on the James River. The scenes on the road 
were painful and trying in the extreme. Every house 
and barn unprotected by a Union bayonet had been 
extemporized into a hospital or infirmary for sick and 
wounded, where they were crowded and huddled to- 
gether without any regard to regiment, brigade, divi- 
sion, or corps. 

Along the river were various temporary camps formed 
by the clustering-together of ten, a hundred, a thou- 
sand, or more men, sick, wounded, or utterly worn out, 
who presented the most forlorn and pitiable look im- 
aginable. The weather having been hot and dry during 
the previous few days, and the roads trodden and worn 
down till the dust was as line as flour or the merest pow- 
der, everybody and every thing were covered with it, 
officers, men, horses, and wagons : it lay in masses on 
the hair, whitened the beard and mustache, lodged upon 
the eyebrows and clung around the eyelashes, and 
gathered all over the countenance, except where rills 
of perspiration swept it down upon the clothing, leav- 
ing furrows upon the features like lines of paint on the 
face of a savage ; and it made everybody, without excep- 
tion, so dirty, that it was positively painful to see others, 
or think of yourself, as in such a plight. Twice dur- 
ing the day the writer saw Gen. McClellan surround- 
ed by the members of his staff; and, had it not been 
for their buttons and trappings, they might easily have 
been mistaken for a party of millers just from work. 



THE RETREATING ARMY. 231 

Following an ambulance creaking under the weight 
of its ghastly burdens, might be seen men, crippled 
with rheumatism, pale and feeble from recent wounds, 
sick, emaciated, gasping for a breath of air, hobbling 
painfully along, some on crutches, some with canes, 
and some leaning on their comrades for support. 

The sheltered fields containing solid ground were 
covered with thousands of wagons parked in system- 
atic order ; while the horses were feasting on the half- 
ripened grain trampled into the earth all about them, 
or munching rations of forage from the feed-box ; and 
the mules were biting and kicking each other, or rais- 
ing such hideous choruses of brays as only army-mules 
are capable of producing. The roads, meantime, ex- 
hibited an interminable procession of vehicles, ambu- 
lances, headquarter spring-wagons, and regimental 
teams, — some carrying baggage, some rations, some 
ammunition ; some, men who had been sun-struck or 
bullet-struck ; and others, men so foot-sore or leg- 
weary, that further muscular locomotion had become 
an utter impossibility. Surrounding and following the 
wagons were troopers, footmen, stragglers, from all de- 
partments of the service, reeking with perspiration, and 
half smothered by the dust ; and mixed up among 
them, men with blood on their faces, and their heads 
bound up ; men Avith blood on their coats, and their 
arms bound up ; men with blood on their pants, jerk- 
ing themselves along by the aid of a strong staff, show- 
ing a wound in the leg ; or men with their jaws shot 
through or half shot away, who could not speak, but 
only point at the crimson clot of mingled gore and hair, 
across which a vivid line, more bright than the rest, 
told how^ the vital current was oozing fast away. 



232 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

The sufferers were not all in motion ; for by the 
roadside sat many, completely worn out from wounds 
or sickness, looking wistfully at every ambulance or 
wagon that went past, to see if there was not room left 
for one more ; and beside them others, who had faint- 
ed utterly away, or were stretched out so fast asleep 
that the trump of doom would hardly arouse them 
from their slumbers. Borne along on stretchers, also 
might be seen, occasionally, one, whose friends would 
not allow him to fall into the enemy's hands or lie 
groaning and helpless by the roadside. Nearly all of 
these were seriously, and some mortally wounded ; 
and the yearning, saddened look they wore, coming, as 
it were, not from the eyes, but from the depths of the 
soul longing for comfort, sympathy, and help, made 
the very heart ache to see it. 

During the battles, which had now lasted seven days, 
hundreds of men had lost their regiments amid the 
darkness of the night, while filling tlieir canteens at 
some brook or well, or in the confusion following a too 
eager charge ; cavalry had been dismounted, and can- 
noneers lost their guns ; some, filled with an uncon- 
querable terror, had fallen back without orders, and 
others had obtained surgeons' certificates which they 
did not deserve. All these lay about in the woods, or 
near some hospital, without food, without officers, 
without organization ; many of them without guns or 
accoutrements, which they had thrown away. As fast 
as possible, they were gathered together by the cavalry, 
and sent back to the commands where they belonged. 
Early on the morning of Wednesday, July 2, the army 
was again in motion. Dark clouds covered the face 
of the heavens, and soon began to pour out a perfect 



ARRIVAL AT HARRISON'S LANDING. 233 

deluge of water upon the parched and dusty earth. 
It seemQd to rain as it had never rained before, and 
speedily transformed the roads into ditches, and the 
babbling brooks, which ran across the roads, mto rush- 
ing torrents. Yet on tramped the weary men, knee- 
deep in mud, and waist-deep in water ; on plunged the 
jaded horses, bespattered, and spattering the yellow 
mire in all directions. By noon, the army, with all its 
immense material, debouched upon the open plain at 
Harrison's Bend, taking possession of wide-spread fields 
of wheat and clover, where the tents were pitched with- 
out, at first, much reference to order or regularity. 
At the landing were transports, which had come round 
by the way of Fortress Monroe from the Pamunkey 
River ; and these, as speedily as possible, were relieved 
of their stores, and filled with the wounded and sick 
for conveyance to a better location. The army was 
drawn up along the shore, under cover of the gun- 
boats, defensive works planned in the ojDposite direc- 
tion, and at once begun. Just before night, rapid firing 
was heard in the rear ; and soon solid shot and shell 
were flying through the air behind us, and striking 
among the tents which had just been pitched. An im- 
mediate assault was made upon the hostile battery, 
which, with all its supports, was easily captured, and 
nearly a thousand men brought in prisoners of war. 
Thus ended the famous seven-days' fighting on the 
Peninsula, and thus closed the campaign of the 
Chickahominy. 

To us it was very disastrous, reducing our army by 
sickness, death, the ordinary casualties of war, resig- 
nations, and discharges, at least fifty thousand men. 
To the rebels, it must have been much more so, in- 

20* 



234 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

asmiich as their whole military strength had been 
concentrated, and brought into the field around Rich- 
mond ; and upon the success of their efforts to capture 
or annihilate our forces there, they seemed to base their 
expectations of final prevalence everywhere, which 
would secure the establishment of their nefarious cause 
at home, and the recognition of their bogus govern- 
ment abroad. 

According to official data, the Union loss from June 
25 to July 2 inclusive was less than two thousand 
killed, about eight thousand wounded, and six thou- 
sand missing ; making a grand total of but sixteen 
thousand men. The public property abandoned or de- 
stroyed, consisted of twenty-five thousand muskets ; 
twenty two or three pieces of artillery ; a few wagons, 
which broke down and were fired with their contents ; 
one complete railroad- train, locomotive, tender, and 
cars, which, under a full head of steam, were sent over 
a broken bridge pell-mell into the river, and large sup- 
plies of ammunition, rations, clothing, equipments, 
and tents, — costing in the aggregate five or six mill- 
ions of dollars. 

The rebel loss in killed and wounded must have 
far exceeded ours, as their men were exposed during 
most of the fighting to the point blank fire of our bat- 
^teries. Of prisoners, we took about three thousand 
men. But greater than any other was the rebel loss of 
.heart, and confidence in the ultimate establishment 
of their cause. Our army, notwithstanding its retreat, 
was almost as near to Richmond as before, and in the 
course of a few months could be made larger than 
ever. We had water communications which could 
not be cut off or blockaded ; and the loyal people were 



RECONNOISSANCE BY GEN. HOOKER. 235 

full of enthusiasm regarding the prosecution of the 
war. The prediction contained in Gen. McClellan's 
address to the army, issued on the 4th of July, was 
not without foundation, therefore, declaring that the 
Army of the Potomac should yet enter the capital of 
the so-called Confederacy ; the National Constitution 
should prevail ; and the Union, which alone could in- 
sure internal peace and external security to each State, 
must and should be preserved, cost what it might in 
time, treasure, and blood. 

While in camp, at Harrison's Landing, various ru- 
mors reached the army concerning the defenceless 
state of Richmond, and the ease with which it could 
be assaulted and taken. Partly to determine whether 
the roads had been fortified or were held in force, Gen. 
Hooker's division, accompanied by a large body of 
cavalry, started on a reconnoissance, after dark, Aug. 
2, in light marching order ; but in some manner 
were misled regarding the roads, and returned to 
camp at daybreak, without having accomplished any 
thing. Monday night, Aug. 4, the attempt was 
renewed, and this time with better success, as at day- 
light the skirmishers came upon a battery in position, 
which had perfect range of the road over which we 
were advancing, and notwithstanding a fog, which 
prevented the gunners from seeing the disposition of 
our forces, enabled them to land their shells exactly 
where they annoyed us the most. As it was not desi- 
rable to charge upon them in front, until certain 
arrangements had been made which would cut off 
their retreat, this fire was endured for some time in 
patience. As previously agreed upon, the charge was 
then ordered, and, greatly to the mortification of all 



236 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

concerned, the enemy were seen escaping by a road 
which was supposed to have been most firmly closed 
against them ; the officer to whom this duty was 
assigned having failed to accomplish it because he had 
admitted an enemy into his mouth which had stolen 
away his brains. Instead of a thousand or more pris- 
oners, we took short of a hundred ; and, instead of a 
battery of guns, not a single piece. This ended all 
attempts to approach the rebel capital by the Penin- 
sula ; and the position of the army at Harrison's Land- 
ing was strengthened in the rear with a chain of 
redoubts stretching from wing to wing, connected by 
a line of infantry covers, in front of wliich the woods 
had been felled to form an abatis ; and by the anchor- 
age of several gunboats in the James River, along the 
front, which really transformed the whole region into 
one huge fortress five miles long and three miles 
wide. 

The following is a list of casualties in the Massa- 
chusetts First at the battle of Glendale, as taken from 
the official report forwarded by Col. Cowdin to head- 
quarters : — 

FIELD AND STAFF. 

Major Charles P. Chandler, supposed to be wounded 
and a prisoner, but afterwards believed to have been 
killed. 

Company A : Killed, Private Julius A. Phelps. 
Wounded,"^ H. M. Finly, J. C. Singer, Charles D. 
Gates. Missing, John Odea, WiUiam Menary, Fer- 
nando McCrillis. 

Company B : Wounded, Lieut. Moses H. Warren, 
slightly ; Sergeant W. E. Hayward, Private George 



CASUALTIES AT GLENDALE. 237 

H. Hanscom, both slightly. Missing, Private George 
Barry. 

Company C : Wounded, Privates E. Nichols, S. A. 
Goodhue. Missing, Private G. E. Wright. 

Company D : Killed, Sergeant Frederic Raw. 
Wounded, Lieut. William Sutherland, Sergeant Isaac 
Williams, Corporal William E,. Rice, Private John 
Kyle, all missing. 

Company E: Wounded, Lieut. Miles Farwell, slight- 
ly. Sergeant Thomas Strangman, Private Conrad Her- 
man, Edwin P. Whitman, the two last likewise miss- 
ing. 

Company F : Wounded, Alexander Gordon. Miss- 
ing, Corporal James E. Keeley, Private John Carney, 
Edward R. Chandler, Daniel Garrity, Simon Stern. 

Company G: Wounded, Timothy Connors, Charles 
H. Goodwin, Joshua M. Caswell, Alva J. Wilson, Phil- 
lomen White. Missing, first Sergeant R. M. Magguire, 
Private John Allen, Edwin Gillpatrick. 

Company H : Wounded, Privates John R. Cud- 
worth, Thomas Thombs, George H. Green, Nathaniel 
Allen. 

Company I : Wounded, Privates William Fleming, 
John E. Grant, Timothy Hurley, Wentworth Wilson. 
Missing, Privates William A. M. Norland, Augustine 
Towle, Jeremiah Crowell. 

Company K: Killed, William B. Hall, John Do- 
lan. Wounded : Lieut. Frank Carruth, slightly, Pri- 
vates Lord A. Payson, William Clark, William J. 
Hudson, Thomas R. Mathers, George H. Wheeler, 
J. W. Nelling. Missing, Wesley Jackson, John P. Ross, 
Charles L. Leonard, David B. Copeland. 



CHAPTER IX. 



Harrison's landing and warrenton junction. 



" Not as we hoped ! — but what are we ? 
Above our broken dreams and plans 
God lays, with wiser hand than man's, 
The corner-stones of liberty. 

Rejoice in hope ! The day and night 

Are one with God, and one with them 

Who see by faith the cloudy hem 
Of Judgment fringed with Mercy's light." 

J. G. Whittier. 

HARRISON'S LANDING — so named, according 
to report, from the family of President Harri- 
son, which formerly lived in the vicinity — was a spot 
of land formed by a bend in the James River, twenty- 
five miles distant from Richmond in a south-easterly 
direction. The land is extremely fertile, bearing im- 
mense crops of corn, wheat, clover, and grass, most of 
which, at the time of our occupation, had just been 
gathered in, or was standing ready for the reaper. 
The land sloped down from the woods, from a mile to 
three and five miles back to the river, presenting 
broad and level surfaces for the labors of the husband- 
man ; and the slope continued into the river, which 
was shallow for a hundred or a hundred and fifty feet 
from the bank. In order to afford facilities for the 
deposit of goods, long piers had been constructed, run- 
ning out into deep water, called landings ; and these 




(-A1;E 01- THE WOrNDED AT HARRISONS LANDING. 



THE ARMY AT HARRISON'S LANDING. 239 

landings were usually named after the persons upon 
whose plantations tliey were built. 

No better defensive position could have been chosen 
than Harrison's Landing. The bend in the river en- 
abled the gunboats to patrol the whole line in front, 
while the redoubts and abatis constructed along the 
hills constituted an impenetrable barrier to the rear. 
The river bottom, shallow yet firm, afforded admira- 
ble facilities for washing and bathing; and the long 
level plains skirting the banks, the best of parade- 
grounds for inspections and reviews. Upon the plan- 
tation were several houses, barns, and negro huts, 
one fine old residence called the Berkeley Mansion, and 
two or three smaller structures, which were at once 
appropriated for hospital purposes. The occupants 
were not found at home, having removed themselves 
and such of their valuables as were portable out of 
harm's way, leaving only their rich carpets, elegant 
furniture, and other heavy articles, not easily trans- 
ported. 

Throughout the day succeeding our settlement at 
the landing, hospital-attendants, stretcher-bearers, am- 
bulance-drivers, surgeons, and their servants, tramped 
in and out of these rooms, from cellar to garret, with 
boots covered with the adhesive mud of the region at 
least six inches deep all round the houses, and at night 
the condition of carpets and furniture can easily be 
imagined. Every room was crowded to suffocation, 
amputations were constantly going on, and men dying 
every hour from the effects of wounds and sickness. 
As fast as they could be obtained, tents were pitched, 
and into these the slightly wounded and moderately 
sick were carried, and their wants attended to. Our 



240 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

surgeons and hospital corps had been ah-eady well- 
nigli broken down by the labors of the previous week, 
but tliey took hold here with renewed energy, and, 
receiving, invaluable assistance and co-operation from 
the agents of the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, 
from various benevolent ladies who had come out to 
act as nurses and benefactors, and from other volun- 
teers, who were ever ready to lend a helping hand 
when occasion required it, soon had affairs systema- 
tized, and the helpless cared for as well as they could 
be under the circumstances. 

Fourth of July was celebrated at the landing by 
the firing of salutes, the performances of the bands, 
and patriotic speeches in various quarters. The com- 
manding general had previously gone round among 
the several camps, assuring the men that matters wore 
a promising aspect on the whole, that re-enforcements 
would soon be at hand, and they should enjoy the rest 
they needed and had richly earned. 

A change of camp was made July 4, by the First 
Regiment, in company with the rest of the brigade, 
to an open field three-quarters of a mile in the rear of 
their first position ; and another ordered to take place 
the next night to a permanent camping-ground farther 
bacli still, as long as the army should remain at Harri- 
son's Landing. Owing to vexatious delays in getting 
across certain brooks, the regiment did not arrive in 
vicinity of the spot selected till nearly midnight ; and 
then the men- threw themselves upon the ground and 
slept soundly until morning. At nine o'clock, a.m., 
Sunday, July 6, the final move was made, and the 
camp established on a slight elevation, having a pond 
and milldam on the right, the rest of the division with 



IMMENSE SWARMS OF FLIES. 241 

the headquarters of Gens. Hooker and Grover on the 
left, a battery in the rear, and the woods in front. 

Never did any of God's creatures enjoy pure water 
more than the soldiers did this pond and dam. The 
dam was so constructed that the fall made a delight- 
ful douche bath, while the pond afforded the best 
facilities for washing, plunging, and swimming. All 
day long the shouts of happy bathers could be heard as 
they laved their weakened frames in the invigorating 
stream, or allowed its silvery sheet to patter across their 
bronzed faces, and down their grateful limbs. The 
weatlier here was intensely hot, and the flies so numer- 
ous that they blackened every thing with their innu- 
merable swarms. A meal was never served but they cov- 
ered the food as soon as it was exposed, flew into soups, 
gravies, tea, and coffee, and kept hands and arms in 
constant motion brushing them off from face and neck. 
If Pharaoh suffered any thing like the annoyances 
they occasioned to us, it is no wonder he consented so 
speedily to let the children of Israel go. To get rid of 
them, the men resorted to various devices, such as 
planting trees before their quarters, arranging boughs 
around their tents, or making the tents as dark as pos- 
sible. But the most effectual method seemed t^ be, to 
entice them into a trap formed of gunpowder and mo- 
lasses, or sugar, and, while they were feasting on the 
sweets thus generously provided, to blow up the whole 
company. They were thus slaughtered by the million. 
But the old sayhig seemed to be verified, that where 
one was killed a hundred came to his funeral, for 
nothing apparently effected any diminution of their 
numbers. Horses suffered even more than men, for 
most of them had no coverings whatever, and their 

21 



242 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

skins were mottled with blotches where they had been 
bitten through the hair, while standing in their places. 
All day long they were kept stamping and moving 
about, so that although they had little or nothing to 
do, and were abundantly fed, they actually grew poor, 
and wore out more shoes than when employed on 
active duty. 

Owing to the intense heat, fatigue-details were not 
allowed to labor in the woods or trenches during the 
middle of the day, but were called up early in the 
morning to improve the cooler hours between four and 
eight, and summoned again in the afternoon to do simi- 
lar service between four and eight in the evening. 
This allowed eight hours for work, eight for refreshment 
and sleep, and eight for recreation, reading, writing, or 
personal improvement ; and was an introduction of the 
eight-hour system hardly anticipated by its philan- 
thropic advocates in this country or abroad. It is cer- 
tainly worth something as a matter of reference, for 
had the men been worked ten hours or more in that 
hot climate, they would have broken down by scores. 

Tuesday, July 8, President Lincoln paid the army a 
visit, and, in company with Gen. McClellan and the 
corps and division commanders, and others, rode along 
the lines to see in what condition the army was. The 
troops were formed in front of their quarters, salutes 
were fired, bands played "Hail to tlic Chief," and en- 
thusiastic cheers rose from all points, showing that the 
commander-in-chief of the nation was, as he richly 
deserved to be, popular and beloved by the soldiers. 
In our rear at this time the rebels were perfectly quiet, 
and, with the exception of a few scouts, had fallen 
back upon Richmond. They still held James River, how- 



BLOCKADE OF THE JAMES RIVER. 243 

ever, both above and below us, and, shortly after mail 
and supply-steamers began to run regularly between the 
Union camp and Fortress Monroe, commenced to annoy 
them by pushing up light batteries to the river-bank, 
and opening suddenly with shell and canister upon the 
passing vessels. At Fort Powhatan, seventy-five miles 
up the James River, where the banks rise sixty feet 
above high-water mark, they made repeated efforts to 
establish a blockade. Failing in this, they got up sud- 
den raids upon vessels going up or down, and once 
assailed the " Daniel Webster," under the very guns of 
the " Sabago " gunboat, whicli was acting as a convoy. 
The channel here being only three hundred yards 
wide, and close by the hostile shore, afforded an excel- 
lent opportunity for a very effective fire. The rebels 
improved it to the utmost of their ability, not only 
with cannon-shot, but also with Minie-balls from the 
rifles of their sharp-shooters. The pilot of the "Daniel 
Webster" was struck in the hand, but signalled to the 
engineer to put on all steam, and succeeded in getting 
out of range without the loss of a soul on board, al- 
though various parts of the boat were perforated 
through and through by bullets and solid shot. The 
gunboat was so situated tliat the rebel batteries might 
have swept her deck fore and aft, but fortunately there 
was too much elevation to their guns, and the shots all 
flew through the rigging. Before the elevation could 
be corrected, the "Sabago" swung around, showing 
her broadside, opened with the heavy guns at her bow 
and stern, and soon sent the rebel gunners scampering 
over the fields. Subsequently no vessels were allowed 
to go up or down the James without armed convoys, 
and at various portions of it gunboats were stationed 



244 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

to prevent the erection of earthworks designed to 
harass our transports or impede navigation. 

About the same time the " Maratanza," gunboat, 
while out on picket duty, just above our camping 
ground, came suddenly upon a little rebel craft, for- 
merly a tug, made into a gunboat called the "Teaser." 
Both vessels were hidden by a sliarp curve in the river, 
flowing here between high banks, and both were ap- 
proaching each other; the "Teaser" coming down, 
and the "Maratanza" going up. After they hove in 
sight neither could get out of the way; and the "Mara- 
tanza," by a few well-directed shots, one of which, a 
hundred-pound rifled shell, exploded directly under- 
neath the "Teaser's" boilers, completely disabling her, 
compelled the little rebel to surrender. She had 
numerous papers, charts, maps, plans, and designs of 
different fortifications on board, and an old balloon, 
made from discarded silk dresses, contributed doubt- 
less by rebel women, which it was intended to inflate 
and send up for reconnoitring purposes near our 
camp at Harrison's Landing. 

During the second week in July, while piles of brush 
and camp refuse were burning, which had been set 
on fire to get them out of the way, a strong wind 
l^rought the devouring element towards the tents. 
Every thing was dry as tinder, the ground covered with 
dead leaves and branches, and it seemed as though the 
camp must go. The whole regiment was called out 
to fight the raging element ; but it approached nearer 
and nearer, rolling up huge volumes of suffocating 
smoke, and darting forth fiery tongues which half- 
smothered and scorched the men, and, had not some 
one suggested the starting of another fire to meet that 



MISS HELEN L. GILSON. 245 

SO rapidly approaching, the entire encampment must 
have been burned to ashes ; as it was, this checked it, 
and the tents were saved. About this time Mr. James 
L. Jones, of Chelsea, obtained the appointment of 
Sutler in the First Regiment, and in company with 
liim came Hon. Frank B. Fay and Miss Helen L. Gil- 
son, of Chelsea. This estimable young lady devoted 
herself assiduously to the welfare of the soldiers in 
the First and other Massachusetts regiments, as a 
nurse ; and in various division, corps, and army hos- 
pitals, from the commencement to the conclusion of 
the war, cheerfully performed her self-imposed duties 
of patriotic benevolence. She was ever ready with a 
kind word, a sweet smile, a moving song, an humble 
prayer, a chapter from the Bible, a paper, book, tract, 
or a few earnest, friendly words, to cheer the disconso- 
late, comfort the sorrowful, assist the living to get 
along, or prepare the dying to depart in peace. She 
cooked palatable dishes, and prepared large quantities 
of tempting broths or cooling drinks for the sick and 
wounded, and by years of devoted service endeared 
herself alike to officers and men. 

Among other welcome visitors during this hot season, 
when the daily regimental sick-list ran up to between a 
hundred and a hundred and twenty every morning, was 
the Rev. Mr. Alvord, Secretary of the American Tract 
Society. He came around regularly in a covered wag- 
on, which formed his vehicle by day and his tabernacle 
by night, bringing not only excellent religious reading 
for the mind, but cordials, jellies, farina, preserved 
fruits, &c., for the body. His advent was always hailed 
with pleasure, and his genial, hearty words listened to 
with profit. 

21* 



246 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

All unusually large number of resignations took place 
inthe regiment about the middle of July. Lieut.-Col. 
Wells, having been commissioned colonel of the Thirty- 
Fourth Regiment, took his leave. Capt. George H. 
Smith also resigned on account of ill-health, and re- 
turned home. Capt. Alfred W. Adams threw up his 
commission for the same reason. Lieut. William P. 
Cowie was promoted from the quartermaster's berth 
to be brigade commissary, and Lieut. Charles L. 
Chandler was commissioned captain in the Thirty- 
Fourth Regiment, under Col. Wells. 

As soon as the redoubts and breastworks planned 
by Gen. McClellan were completed, and the army 
placed in a perfectly defensible position, the usual rou- 
tine of military life in camp was resumed. Drilling 
took the place of digging, and picket duty was dis- 
tributed as regularly as it had been formerly at Fair 
Oaks. Several new regiments were added to divisions 
and corps greatly reduced in available material, and 
large accessions of fresh men received from the North- 
ern States. 

At midnight, on July 31, the whole camp was 
alarmed by a sudden fire of artillery, which opened 
from across the James upon our mail-boat landing, 
and the headquarters of Col. Ligals at Westover, close 
by. At first it was believed that the long-expected 
visit from rebel iron-clads, which had been for so many 
months in course of preparation at Richmond, and for 
which our fleet had been most tlioroughly prepared, 
was at last being paid. But the small caliber of 
the guns and the steady direction of the firing soon 
proved the contrary, and it was discovered that some 
batteries of field artillery had been posted, under cover 



NIGHT ATTACK BY THE REBELS. 247 

of night, nearly opposite our position, which were in 
full play upon every thing within range of their shot. 
The river at this point was narrower than below or 
above, being hardly three-quarters of a mile wide, and 
was crowded with steamers, schooners, tugs, canal-boats, 
and transports of all descriptions. Very few of them 
were hit, except in the rigging, as the guns were ele- 
vated to reach across to the other side. A continuous 
stream of shot and shell went whizzing and hissing 
among the tents and wagons, however, illuminating 
the whole encampment with a sudden flash when shells 
exploded, and causing men and animals to move 
about and make for the rear in the liveliest manner 
conceivable. 

-The rebel batteries were three in number, mounting 
six, ten, and twelve-pounders ; and the men who 
worked them were evidently intent upon accomplish- 
ing a large amount of mischief in a short space of 
time,' for they loaded and fired with remarkable ce- 
lerity, and the flashes and reports of their guns were 
almost incessant. Our own gunboats at this time were 
away up the river, expecting the advent of tlie rebel 
iron-clads, so that with the exception of the flag-ship, 
" Wachusett," and the " Cimerone," we had nothing 
available with which to reply to the hostile assault. 
As speedily as possible these moved up, and opened 
upon the assailants, and a portion of the First Con- 
necticut Heavy Artillery was double-quicked to the 
river bank, where several rifled thirty-two-pound Par- 
rots were planted, and these were managed with such 
telling effect, that the fire of the rebels instantaneously 
slackened, and in less than twenty minutes it had 
ceased altogether. No doubt they had hoped to spread 



248 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

consternation through our army, set fire to our steam- 
ers and transports in the river, and destroy life and 
property along the bank ; but only four men and a 
few mules were killed, five men wounded, and a couple 
of tents rendered useless by the explosion of shells. 
Determined not to be annoyed in this way again, 
two regiments from Gen. Porter's corps were em- 
barked the next day upon steamers, carried across 
the river and landed, under the guns of the " Mahas- 
ka," on the opposite bank. Squads of hostile cavalry 
were observed flying about with the utmost activity ; 
but after throwing out pickets, the regiments proceed- 
ed to burn every habitation in the vicinity whence 
the firing of the previous night had proceeded. Ten 
dwelling-houses were reduced to ashes in the course of 
the day ; among them, the splendid family mansion 
of Edmund Ruffin, who aimed and fired the first gun 
at Fort Sumter, in the beginning of the war, and, at 
its conclusion, blew out his own brains, with a pistol, 
becaiise it had not succeeded. During this work of 
destruction our troops were entirely unmolested, and 
returned at night without the loss of a man. The 
enemy never repeated the bombardment again by day 
or night. 

Nothwithstanding an abundant quantity of water 
for washing and bathing, the camps at Harrison's 
Landing were but poorly supplied with water for cook- 
ing and drinking. In our own regiment, tlierefore, a 
well was sunk, and the earth excavated to the depth 
of twenty-five or thirty feet to obtain the article de- 
sired. Above a stratum of hard blue clay, so dense 
that images and other ornaments were made of it by 
the men, were found the remains of an ancient forest, 



ABOLITION OF REGIMENTAL BANDS. 249 

at least twenty feet below the surface of the ground ; 
and one day the diggers came across and sent up to 
the surface a live toad, which had not seen daylight for 
thousands of years, if ever. 

The expenses of Government were now counting up 
to millions a day ; and, in casting about to see how they 
might be lessened without detriment to the service, it 
was concluded that regimental bands might be dis- 
pensed with, and, by allowing only a band to a brigade, 
a large amount of money, in the aggregate, be saved 
in course of the year. To the majority of the ihen such 
a method of retrenchment was distasteful, especially 
when accompanied by the most extravagant expendi- 
tures in other departments, against which not a word 
of, remonstrance was ever heard. The music of the 
bands exercised a salutary moral influence over all 
that heard it, and cheered them up after the exhaus- 
tions of fatigue duty, or during the tedium of camp 
routine. It was a great addition, moreover, to the im- 
pressiveness of dress parades, guard-mountings, and 
general reviews ; and the sum required in course of 
a year to pay the musicians was so small a portion 
of the grand amount, that it seemed hardly worth a 
serious consideration ; but the project was carried out, 
and we soon bade adieu to the members of our regi- 
mental band, and never were allowed to have another 
during the remainder of our period of service. 

An excellent move was made in the medical depart- 
ment of the United-States army, subsequent to the 
Peninsular campaign, allowing every full regiment to 
have two assistant surgeons instead of one. It was 
found that in ordinary camp duty one was hardly suf- 
ficient, and during an engagement serious suffering 



250 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

and loss of life resulted from so meagre a supply of 
skilful and experienced practitioners. To the Medical 
Staff of the First Regiment Dr. T. Fletcher Oakes, of 
South Dartmouth, was added at Harrison's Landing, 
giving us a full complement in this department, when, 
on account of the sickness of Surgeon Richard H. 
Salter, it was greatly needed. 

Throughout the army, at this time, the surgeons 
had their hands full of business. In many cases the 
Chickahominy fever, brought from the bogs and ditches 
of White-oak Swamp, developed itself with fatal effect. 
Diseases induced by exhaustion, hot weather, excite- 
ment, and over-work, also abounded, and kept at least 
twenty per cent, of the troops on the list of " excused 
from duty." 

Of our own regiment, four died in camp, namely, 
Alfred A. Swallow, quartermaster's sergeant ; Thomas 
W. Reynolds, Company D ; Edward A. Derby, Company 
F ; and Henry Tarbox, Company G. 

Their funerals were attended by all the men of the 
regiment, and a feeling of solemnity seemed to pervade 
their hearts fully equal to that usually observable at 
home on similar occasions. 

The second battle of Malvern Hill, described in 
Chapter VHI., which was fought Tuesday, Aug. 5, 
caused the death of but few among the Union forces 
engaged, and none connected with the Massachusetts 
First. Only one man of this command was injured, 
and he not seriously, — John A. Emory, of Company 
E, by a contusion in the side. 

Aug. 6, some twenty of our number, taken pris- 
oners of war during the seven-days' fighting on the 
Peninsula, were exchanged by the authorities at Rich- 



MEMBERS OF THE REGIMENT EXCHANGED. 251 

mond, and returned to their places. Most of them 
looked very thin and worn ; and all averred that they 
had seen enough of rebel fare and rebel quarters. 
They were allowed only one-fourth of a loaf of bread 
and a small piece of fresh meat, per day, to a man, 
without tea, coffee, sugar, or vegetables ; and to obtain 
fresh water were obliged to dig wells, or dip up that 
flowing in the river. They were poorly supplied with 
tents ; and the sick were wickedly neglected. Their 
guards were civil enough, as a general thing, espe- 
cially as through them they carried on a constant trade 
for provisions and clothing such as could be bought in 
Richmond ; and to a man the rebels preferred green- 
backs to their own money. In passing through the 
streets, to and from prison, the men seemed to regard 
them with aversion or indifference ; but occasionally 
§ome imp of a woman would stick out her lip, turn up 
her nose, or twitch away her skirt from contact with 
their clothing, showing how much more petty and 
spiteful was the hostility of the secesh feminine than 
of the secesh masculine ; but now and then they saw 
looks, heard whispers, and received bounties from fair 
hands, that made their hearts bound under their jack- 
ets, and convinced them that in the very hot-bed and 
headquarters of rebellion loyal souls still remained, 
and still continued steadfast to the Union and its 
brave defenders. They reported fortifications of great 
strength around Richmond, and an immense array of 
troops gathered and gathering continually from all 
parts of the South ; but were assured that the rebel 
leaders were becoming more and more unpopular, and 
the rebel cause was losing ground. During most of 
the month of July, great uncertainty was felt at Wash- 



252 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

iiigtoii regarding the best disposition to make of the 
Army of the Potomac. That it was one of the best 
armed, best trained, best led, and most experienced 
armies in the country, everybody felt ; but it was not 
large enough to advance unaided against the formidable 
line of earthworks around Richmond, covering, as was 
then estimated, fully one hundred thousand of the 
enemy's forces ; nor could it be reenforced without 
seriously weakenhig other important points, and per- 
chance exposing Washington itself to the danger of 
capture. 

On the 26th of July, Gen. Ilalleck, who three days 
previously had been made, by order of President Lin- 
coln, General-in-Chief of all the Union land forces, 
and Gen. Burnside, accompanied by Gen. Meigs, ar- 
rived at Harrison's Landing, and held a long consulta- 
tion with Gen. McClellan. The latter general thought 
that with fifty thousand fresh men he might venture 
another assault upon Richmond. Gen. Halleck could 
not promise him over twenty thousand. He told Gen. 
Halleck he would try and do something with that 
number ; but, immediately after his departure to Wash- 
ington, telegraphed to him that it was impossible, and 
he must have thirty-five thousand, or nothing could be 
attempted. The thirty-five thousand could not possi- 
bly be obtained, and therefore a telegram was for- 
warded, ordering the withdrawal of the entire army 
from the James River, to take place the 3d of August. 
Against this Gen. McClellan respectfully protested, 
alleging that it might prove a fatal blow to the Union 
cause ; that it would necessitate a march of one hun- 
dred and twenty-five miles ; that it would greatly 
demoralize the army, depress the loyal people of the 



ORDER TO WITHDRAW THE ARMY. 253 

North, encourage the enemy, and tempt armed inter- 
vention from foreign powers. He also suggested that 
at Harrison's Landing he was nearer the centre and 
life of the Rebellion than he could get in any other 
direction ; that his water communications were per- 
fect ; that he could rely upon the powerful aid of the 
gunboats ; that a decided Union victory in the vicinity 
of Richmond might crush the military strength of the 
enemy forever ; and that plenty of reenforcements 
were available, if they could only be withdrawn from 
such points as Harper's Ferry, Newport News, &c., 
where their presence was by no means absolutely 
necessary. To this Gen. Halleck replied, that his 
order had been issued only after careful and mature 
deliberation of the questions involved, and in accord- 
ance with the advice of the highest officers whose 
views had been solicited ; that it was utterly impos- 
sible to spare the troops needed for reenforcements, 
without uncovering the capital, Maryland, and even 
Pennsylvania ; that the location at Harrison's Landing 
was extremely insalubrious, and was growing rapidly 
more so ; that the reduction of Fort Darling and the 
James-River batteries, which must necessarily precede 
any assault upon Richmond, would require considera- 
ble time ; and that the enemy, who had now gathered 
an immense army, might leave men enough to resist 
his operations, and send another force sufficiently large 
to rout Gen. Pope, force him behind the defences of 
Washington, and lay siege to and take that city by 
assault before Gen. McClellan's army could be of any 
service whatever in opposing the movement. There- 
fore the order must be obeyed. 

Upon this, it was decided to make a retreat down 



254 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

the left bank of the James River, to Yorktown, and 
possibly Fortress Monroe ; and, to divert rebel attention 
from the projected movement. Gen. Pope's forces were 
advanced across the R-appahamiock, in the direction 
of Culpepper Court House. 

Preparations were made straightway to evacuate 
Harrison's Landing. The sick and wounded were 
sent to Fortress Monroe. Supplies of every description, 
piled up along the river-bank, were transferred to the 
vessels which brought them, and conveyed away. All 
surplus baggage, tents, stores, and property, public 
and private, were gathered together, and sent down to 
the wharves. Thursday, Aug. 14, the right wing 
departed ; and the next day, after waiting from ten 
o'clock, A.M., until two and a half, p.m., the brigade of 
Gen. Grover brought up the rear of the left. 

Meantime, as early as June 27, a new army had been 
created by President Lincoln, called the "Army of Vir- 
ginia," comprising the troops under Gens. Fremont, 
Banks, McDowell, and Sturgis ; and the command of 
it assigned to Major-Gen. John Pope. The Army of the 
Potomac, after its withdrawal from the Peninsula, was 
ordered to reenforce the Army of Virginia, and be 
subject to the commands of its principal officer. Gen. 
Pope. Tins was an indirect displacement of Gen. 
McClellan, and must have galled liim to the quick. 

Gen. Pope was delayed from taking the field as 
quickly as he otherwise might, by the absence of Gen. 
Halleck from Washington. He busied himself, how- 
ever, in ascertaining the strength and condition of his 
fprces, indicating tlie manner in which he proposed to 
meet the enemy, and sending out various addresses 
and general orders, which were all aflame with patri- 



REJOICING IN RICHMOND. 255 

otic fire, and full of vigor and determination respecting 
the approaching campaign. 

People living along lines of railroads, telegraphs, 
and common routes of travel, were to be held respon- 
sible for their good order and preservation ; every 
house sheltering an actual assailant of the soldiers 
was to be razed with the ground ; disloyal citizens, un- 
willing to take the oath of allegiance, were liable to 
arrest, or removal beyond the Union lines ; and forage 
was to be appropriated without question, whenever 
found in the enemy's country. 

Under the influence of these orders, large numbers 
of houses were entered, females were insulted, private 
property plundered, and many grievous outrages per- 
petrated, which induced the rebels to declare, by way 
of retaliation, that Gen. Pope had placed himself with- 
out the pale of civilized warfare ; and both he and his 
officers, in the event of capture, should be considered 
and treated only as highwaymen. 

The departure of Gen. McClellan from the Peninsula 
caused great rejoicings in Richmond, inasmuch as it 
gave Gen. Lee an opportunity to assume the offensive, 
which he had long been desiring to do. Stonewall 
Jackson, by compelling Gen. Banks to evacuate the 
Shenandoah Valley, had demonstrated, so it was 
thought at Richmond, the feasibility of recovering the 
whole of Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky ; of liber- 
ating Maryland ; of capturing Washington and Balti- 
more ; and extending the tide of conquest from Harris- 
burg and Philadelphia in the east, to Cincinnati and 
St. Louis in the west. 

Fired with the idea of this brilliant prospect, the 
rebel authorities immediately began preparations for 



1^56 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT, 

an advance towards Maryland. No less than one hun- 
dred and fifty thousand men had been gathered, armed, 
accoutred, and equipped at the rebel capital ; and of 
these, at least one hundred and twenty thousand could 
be spared for the proposed invasion. 

As early as the first week in August, they began to 
move ; and by Saturday, the 9th, appeared in strong 
force at Cedar Mountain, a sugar-loaf eminence, two 
miles west of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, in 
the rear of Culpepper Court House. Here they were 
met by Gen. Banks, at the head of tlie second army 
corps of the Army of Virginia, and after a sangui- 
nary conflict, much of which was hand to hand, com- 
pelled to fall back. The Union loss was fifteen hun- 
dred killed, wounded, and missing, fifteen hundred 
muskets, two Napoleon guns, and some ammunition. 
The rebel loss was equally severe in men, including 
the two generals. Winder and Trimble. The enemy 
retired with such precipitancy, after the engagement, 
as to leave many of their dead and wounded uncared 
for on the ground ; from which it was concluded that 
the bulk of their forces had not yet come up. 

Shortly after, a party of horsemen were surprised at 
Louisa Court House, near the Rapidan, and made pris- 
oners. Upon one of them was found an important 
autograph letter from Gen. Lee, indicating his inten- 
tion to hurry up his forces to the position occupied by 
Gen. Pope, attack him before he could be re enforced 
by the Army of the Potomac, interrupt his communi- 
cations with Washington, and thus capture or destroy 
his entire army. A telegram was immediately de- 
spatched by Gen. Halleck, ordering him to fall back 
across the Rapidan, and look well to his flanks. At 



THE RETROGRADE MOVEMENT. 257 

the same time, Gen. Cox, in Western Virginia, was or- 
dered to send the principal part of his troops at once 
to Gen. Pope ; and couriers were started off to urge 
forward the columns of Gen. McClellan with all pos- 
sible speed. 

On Friday, Aug. 15, the Army of the Potomac 
left Harrison's Landing in the rear, and commenced a 
retrograde movement towards Williamsburg and York- 
town. It was anticipated that some difficulty would 
be experienced from assaults in the rear; but, as the 
rebels had sent all their available forces in the direc- 
tion of Culpepper and Manassas, this anticipation was 
not realized, and the division encamped that night four 
miles below Charles City Court House, near the bank 
of" James River, at nine o'clock, having been unmo- 
lested through the day. 

The court house and jail were the principal build- 
ings of this Virginia town, there being only a store, a 
couple of dwellings, some barns, and a few negro huts 
in addition. The country was looking finely in all 
directions, and the plantations in a fair state of culti- 
vation. 

The march was resumed on the 16th, and continued 
to within a short distance of the Chickahominy River. 
There was some trouble here about rations, on account 
of the distribution of smoked pork that was tainted. 
The men refused to receive it, and appealed to their 
officers in their behalf. The officers, of course, sus- 
tained them ; and a better article was obtained. 

On the 17th, the Chickahominy was crossed ; and, 
after a long and fatiguing march, the village of Bar- 
hamsville reached. Here the shop of a blacksmith 
who had been heard talking treason, was torn down, 

22* 



258 rilE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

and the boards appropriated for the comfort of the 
soldiers. 

On the 18th, Williamsburg was reached ; and dur- 
ing that day and the next considerable time was spent 
in revisiting the spots wliere the hardest fighting oc- 
curred on the previous 5th of May. 

After remaining two nights in the vicinity of York- 
town, the regiment embarked on board the steamer 
" Vanderbilt," weighed anchor, and proceeded down 
the river towards Chesapeake Bay. Just at the mouth 
of the river, the vessel ran aground, and stuck fast all 
night, despite every exertion made to get her off. 
The next morning she floated again, and the trip was 
resumed. As it was not possible to accommodate the 
regimental teams and horses of the field and staff upon 
the steamer, they were sent down, in charge of wagon- 
masters and officers' servants, to Fortress Monroe, 
thence to be shipped on board schooners and other 
craft to Alexandria. As they did not arrive at the 
latter place till after the regiment had been ordered 
away, the officers were obliged to go without their 
usual changes of apparel ; and those who had been 
accustomed to ride were afforded an undesired oppor- 
tunity of learning how much better it was to walk. 

The passage up the Potomac was not varied by any 
incident worthy special mention ; and on Sunday, the 
24th, Alexandria was readied, the regiment disem- 
barked, marched through the city, and encamped for 
the night near Fort Ellsworth, about four miles out. 
Here were met an immense number of troops belong- 
ing to the various divisions and corps of Gen. McClel- 
lan's army, who were being hurried up in the direction 
of the Rappahannock as fast as possible ; and here it 



PROMOTIONS. 259 

was first ascertained that Gen. Pope was falling back, 
with Gen. Lee in his front, and that there was a likeli- 
hood of a great battle being fought any day. 

Just before sundown, on the 25th, the regiment took 
the cars, and was carried up to Warrenton Junction, 
a distance of forty-one miles from Alexandria. The 
enemy were so near, that they attacked and burned 
the very train which brought the First to the scene of 
action, as it was going back empty ; and the next 
day attacked another train which was coming up full, 
wounding several, disabling the engine, and capturing 
a few prisoners. 

The streams at this time were very much swollen 
by recent rains, preventing the passage of the rebel 
infantry, artillery, and wagon-trains ; and to this 
fact is owing the achievement of a junction between 
the Army of Virginia and the Army of the Potomac, 
before Lee could make his grand assault. 

Just before the regiment left Harrison's Landing, 
the following promotions and appointments were offi- 
cially announced : — 

Capt. Clark B. Baldwin, Company E, was made 
lieutenant-colonel. 

Capt. Sumner Carruth, Company H, was made 
major. This meritorious officer was subsequently pro- 
moted to be lieutenant-colonel and colonel of the 
Thirty-fifth Massachusetts, and finally brevetted briga- 
dier-general for gallantry in action. 

First Lieut. George E. Henry was made captain of 
Company F ; First Lieut. Francis W. Carruth was 
made captain of Company K; First Lieut. William 
C. Johnston was made captain of Company E ; First 
Lieut. Charles L. Chandler was made captain of Com- 



260 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

pany A ; First Lieut. Horatio Roberts was made cap- 
tain of Company H. Second Lieut. John McDonough 
was made first lieutenant of Company G ; Second Lieut. 
F. A. Pelby was made first lieutenant of Company I ; 
Second Lieut. Henry Parkinson was made first lieuten- 
ant of Company B ; Second Lieut. M. H. Warren was 
made first lieutenant of Company C ; Second Lieut. 
Henry Hartley was made first lieutenant of Company 
F ; Sergeant John S. Mandeville was made first lieu- 
tenant of Company K ; Acting Sergeant-Major George 
W. Harris was made second lieutenant of Company I ; 
Sergeant S. K. Morris was made second lieutenant 
of Company B ; Ordnance-Sergeant John S. Willey 
was made second lieutenant of Company D ; Sergeant 
John S. Clark was made second lieutenant of Company 
D ; Sergeant George L. Lawrence was made second 
lieutenant of Company G ; Sergeant Nathaniel Averill 
was made second lieutenant of Company K ; Corporal 
William C. Manning was made sergeant-major, and 
Sergeant James G. Miller quartermaster's sergeant. 







\ , \ V 



& 



ik 





IN THE WOOD? AT THE SECOND BULL RUN 




CHAPTER X. 

BRISTOW STATION, SECOND BULL RUN, AND CHANTILLY. 

" Shoulder to shoulder stand the brother bands, 
Brave hearts and tender, with undaunted eye; 
With manly patience ready to endure; 
With gallant daring resolute to die. 

They know not fear ; for what have they to fear 
Who all have counted, and have all resigned. 
And laid their lives a solemn offering down 
For laws, for truth, for freedom, for mankind? " 

Mrs. H. B. Stowe. 

THE Orange and Alexandria Railroad, by which 
Gen. Pope received his supplies, was the object 
aimed at by Gen. Lee. The stations on this road were 
the Springfield Station, nine miles distant from Alex- 
andria; Burke's Station, fourteen; Fairfax, eighteen; 
Union Mills, twenty-three ; Manassas Junction, twenty- 
seven ; Bristow Station, thirty-one; Catlett's, thirty- 
eight ; Warrenton Junction, forty-one ; Bealton, forty- 
seven ; Rappahannock, fifty-one ; Brandy Station, 
fifty-six ; Culpepper, sixty-two ; and Mitchell's, sixty- 
nine. 

Friday night, the 22d, Gen. Stuart, of the rebel cav- 
alry, made a daring raid upon Catlett's Station, which 
contributed not a little towards compelling Gen. Pope 
to move to the rear. Considering Catlett's a safe posi- 
tion, a large number of wagons were parked there, in- 
cluding those filled with the personal baggage of Gen. 



262 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Pope himself, and that of his staff. At midnight, the 
bold raider appeared, scattered the few guards from a 
Pennsylvania regiment and the Purnell Legion of Ma- 
ryland, who disputed his will ; set fire to the trains, 
which, however, a drenching rain speedily extin- 
guished ; took all the sick out of the hospital, and 
mounted them on two hundred horses he had stolen 
from Gen. Pope's train ; and then deliberately helped 
himself to all the personal baggage of Gen. Pope and 
staff, and made off. 

A series of manoeuvres were now executed by the 
two armies ; the design of Gen. Lee being to reach 
the Union rear, and cut in between the Union forces and 
Washington ; that of Gen. Pope to fall back, without 
disorder or panic, and hold the rebels in front or 
flank. 

Bridges which had been destroyed across rivers by 
the Federal rear were reconstructed by the rebel ad- 
vance ; fords of creeks and runs which were guarded 
in strong force by cavalry and artillery were assaulted, 
taken, regained, and held; roads barricaded by trees 
were cleared, used for a time, lost, and barricaded 
again. For seven days. Gen. Lee exhausted the re- 
sources of strategy and generalship, trying to penetrate 
the Union front, or outflank the left wing. Up the 
north fork of the Eappahanno'ck, and down again, his 
forces roved, making here and there an experimental 
crossing to effect a lodgement on the left bank, only to 
get severely handled, and driven back again. 

Provided he could be held in this manner until the 
Army of the Potomac came up from Alexandria, and 
Gen. Burnside's forces arrived, after evacuating Fred- 
ericksburg and Aquia Creek, Washington was safe; 



JUNCTION OF THE FEDERAL ARMIES. 263 

otlierwise it was in danger. Every thing hinged upon 
this uncertainty. 

At one time, it seemed as though every thing would 
be lost on account of it, because the forces of Gen. 
Lee were so numerous, that he could spare twenty 
thousand men to operate on either flank of the Union 
army, while he still pressed down upon the front ; and, 
pursuing this course, he had already begun to turn 
Gen. Pope's right in the direction of Manassas, before 
the divisions of the Army of the Potomac, which he 
had ordered to rendezvous there, had arrived, and 
while he was still encamped at Warren ton and War- 
renton Junction. Fearing that he might be cut off in 
spite of all that he could do, he hastily abandoned the 
vicinity of Warrenton, and was falling back in three 
columns towards Manassas, when he encountered Gen. 
Heintzelman's corps coming up from Alexandria with- 
out artillery, wagons, or horses for the field and gen- 
eral officers, but with ten thousand as good men as 
ever loaded a rifle or fixed a bayonet. At the same 
time, one division of Gen. Porter's corps arrived at 
Bealton Station, eleven miles south of Warrenton 
Junction, and another division reached Kelley's Ford, 
on the Rappahannock River, within supporting distance 
of the First ; both divisions having marched day and 
night from Fredericksburg, so that the men were com- 
pletely prostrated with fatigue. If these could not be 
called fresh troops in such a crippled and exhausted 
condition, their arrival was, at the same time, a relief 
and an embarrassment to Gen. Pope, because he hardly 
knew whether to send them back to drive Stonewall 
Jackson from Manassas Junction, or to retain them at 
the front to withstand the advance of Gen. Lee. It 



264 . THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

was a situation of great perplexity, from which, how- 
ever, he was speedily relieved by the activity of the 
rebel raiders. An immense amount of stores, supplies, 
and baggage, was gathered at this time at Manassas 
Junction, and all along the line of the railroad as 
far up as Warrenton. The rebels were determined to 
have this, or to insure its destruction. They carried 
out this determination with complete success. 

The First Regiment having arrived at Warrenton 
Junction, in company witli the rest of Gen. Grover's 
brigade, on the niglit of the 25th, encamped close by 
the railroad until morning, and then withdrew into a 
pleasant field on the left, where, with an abundance of 
straw from neighboring wheat-stacks, good springs 
of clear water, and admirable facilities for washing and 
bathing in Cedar Creek, that ran alongside the camp, 
the soldiers promised themselves a season of respite 
from the fatigue and turmoil of fighting. But it was 
not to be. The luxury of sleep was ru.dely broken 
before daylight on the morning of the 27tli, and every 
man ordered to fall in, with three days' rations and forty 
rounds of ammunition, for an immediate start. Most 
of the tents were left behind, and all the officers' bag- 
gage, to be packed into cars at the leisure of the 
quartermaster's sergeant. Hospital stores, including 
surgeons' amputating-cascs, commissary supplies, mus- 
kets, and other material, were to be disposed of in a 
similar manner. Gen. Hooker's entire division was on 
the move thus early to prevent Stonewall Jackson from 
getting across Gen. Pope's line of retreat. During the 
night previous, two bridges on the railroad had been 
injured or destroyed, leaving enormous trains above 
them on the track, entirely cut off from connection with 



BATTLE AT BRISTOW STATION. 265 

Washington. Unless these bridges could be rebuilt, 
and the rebels driven back, not only must hundreds of 
double cars, loaded with public property, and several 
valuable locomotives, be abandoned or destroyed, but 
the personal baggage of over a thousand officers must 
share the same fate. 

The division marched down the railroad, past War- 
renton Junction to Catlett's, without meeting the 
enemy, and continued cautiously to feel its way to- 
wards Bristow, seven miles beyond. The heat of the 
day was most oppressive ; and the men, having been 
marched ten miles at a rapid rate, were completely out 
of breath, when, just as they emerged in line of battle 
upon an open plain, skirted by a thick growth of young 
pines, in the neighborhood of Bristow Station, the 
enemy opened upon them with artillery, and at once 
checked their advance. Skirmishers were deployed 
immediately ahead of the column, led by the New- 
Jersey and Excelsior brigades ; and an assault ordered 
in force. It was most gallantly made. The rebels, 
under cover, greeted our advance with a galling fire, 
before which many a brave fellow was stricken to the 
earth. Their artillery held on until the cannoneers 
were shot from the guns so rapidly, that it became cer- 
tain destruction to attempt to load them ; and then they 
were limbered up and drawn away. The infantry 
supports in their rear speedily followed, and the Union 
skirmishers pursued, completely clearing the position 
they had held, and occupying it themselves. The 
severe fighting lasted less than two hours, and was 
succeeded by the scattered and irregular fire of the 
skirmishers, which continued until dark. 

The main body of the rebels, under Stonewall Jack- 



266 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

son at this time, was at Manassas, where, on the previous 
evening, tliey had captured a depot of supplies, burned 
an immense quantity, and carried away enough to last 
their entire forces during the subsequent foray into Mary- 
land. Gen. Pope had calculated that the Army of the 
Potomac would have arrived from Alexandria in season 
to prevent this ; but Stonewall Jackson was too quick, 
or Gen. McClellan was too slow ; and his calculations 
failed. The amount of stores taken may be judged 
from the report made afterwards by Gen. Lee, that 
they captured so much more than they could use or 
carry away, that vast quantities were burned. The 
forces of Gen. Lee numbered at least one hundred 
thousand men, capable of appropriating a prodigious 
amount of plunder. 

At Bristow Station, the troops engaged were only a 
portion of Stonewall Jackson's column under Gen. 
Ewell ; and, as Jackson himself was in a very difficult 
and dangerous situation, it was no part of his policy to 
scatter his men, while the enemy were about. Gen. 
Ewell, therefore, immediately fell back, leaving all his 
dead and wounded, amounting to three hundred men, 
in the hands of Gen. Hooker's division, and most of 
his camp equipage just as it had been used a few hours 
before by his own soldiers. Rebel cattle were lying 
slaughtered on the plain, all ready to be cut up into 
rations of fresh meat ; rebel fires were burning brightly, 
baking bread, boiling vegetables, and frying pork ; and 
rebel knapsacks, haversacks, and blankets were found 
where they had been deposited for safe-keeping, when 
the line was formed hastily at noon to repel Gen. 
Hooker's assault. 

Of forty rounds of cartridges distributed at the com- 



STONEWALL JACKSON. 267 

meiicement of this fight among the Union troops, but 
five remained when it was over, and more it was impos- 
sible to get then, as every thing had been left with the 
wagons at Warrenton Junction, when the division 
hurried away in the morning. Gen. Morrell, therefore, 
was directed to march to the relief of Gen. Hooker's 
division; and orders were communicated to Gen. Banks 
to bring his corps, with all tlie trains, artillery, and 
public property which could be removed, to this side 
of Cedar Creek, destroying the rest, and holding the 
fords. Trains of cars were accordingly hurried down 
the road, loaded at the various camping stations, and 
drawn to the rear. Muskets were pitched into wells 
and brooks, or broken to pieces over stone walls. 
Quartermasters' and commissary stores were gathered 
into vacant houses or barns, and set fire to. Valuable 
hospital-supplies, including books, surgical instru- 
ments, and costly medicines, were thus disposed of, and 
every thing else removed. 

There was nothing now left for Stonewall Jackson 
to do but to retreat. Only one line was open to him, 
and he could hardly pursue that without the capture 
of a large part, if not the whole of his army, unless re- 
enforced by Gen. Lee. Gainesville, on the road to 
Thoroughfare Gap, was held in force by Gens. Rey- 
nolds, Siegel, and McDowell. Centreville, in his rear, 
was in the direct line of march taken by all of Gen. 
Pope's troops, and soon to be the rendezvous of what- 
ever fresh divisions might be sent up from Alexandria. 
The road to Centreville he took, however, and his rear 
guard left the place on the 28th, just as the advance 
of Gen. Heintzelman's corps entered it. Pushing on 
with the utmost despatch, he met Gen. Reno in one 



268 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

direction, and Gen. Porter in another. Backward, 
forward, and on both sides, the way seemed closing up 
against him, and in another day his entire command 
would have been surrounded and captured ; but, as 
Providence had ordered it, during the night of the 
28th, Gen. Ricket, who held Thoroughfare Gap, in the 
Bull Run Mountains, withdrew his division, so as not 
to be assaulted in rear and flank by Gen. Lee, and in 
front by Gen. Longstreet, and thus allowed Longstreet 
to bring his forces through the Gap to the relief of 
Jackson. Had this Gap been held, as it should have 
been, the surrender or capture of Jackson and all his 
forces must have been inevitable. This would greatly 
have weakened and disheartened the rebels, and so 
strengthened and inspirited our troops, that the offen- 
sive might have been resumed at once. The Gap 
once abandoned to the rebels, was improved by them 
to the utmost. On the road to it the advance of Gen. 
Jackson encountered Gen. King's Union division, and, 
after a sanguinary engagement, during which there 
was great loss of life on both sides, compelled it to re- 
tire, leaving the way open for Longstreet to effect the 
desired junction with himself. For twenty-four hours 
subsequently the rebels were thronging through the 
Gap, and Jackson rested his wearied men preparatory 
to another assault upon our position. 

On both sides the condition of things was now en- 
tirely changed. Stonewall Jackson had troops enough 
not only to hold his own, but to resume the offensive 
again at the first favorable opportunity, while Gen. 
Lee, having parted with Longstreet, and so far 
weakened his columns, was made more wary and cau- 
tious in his approaches. Gen. Pope continued to fall 



SCARCITY OF SUPPLIES. 269 

back, but without the least precipitation, inasmuch as 
having now effected a junction with most of the Army 
of the Potomac, he felt fully equal to the risk of a 
pitclied battle, even with the whole of Gen. Lee's 
force. 

The only drawback among the Union soldiers was 
the lack of rations and forage. Of these the enemy had 
captured and destroyed such a large quantity that there 
was not a corps, division, or brigade which did not 
seriously feel the scarcity. Green apples were grow- 
ing on the trees, and green corn standing in the fields. 
To these hundreds of men helped themselves, and 
upon them subsisted two or three days, not able to ob- 
tain any thing better. Such provender added neither 
to. their strength nor confidence, however, and about 
this time became manifest a decided inclination to fall 
back into the defences of Washington. 

Various causes led to this. There was a growing 
distrust in the ability of Gen. Pope to oversee and con- 
trol the movements of so large a body of men as had 
been placed under his command, scattered about as 
they then were, and to cope successfully with such 
able antagonists as Lee, Jackson, Longstreet, and 
Ewell. Throughout the Army of the Potomac, the 
semi-removal of McClellan had likewise occasioned a 
feeling of disaffection, which prevented the men from 
doing their duty with the enthusiasm and alacrity for 
which they had been distinguished, and so made mat- 
ters worse. Among the Union generals, at the same 
time, there was very little unity of feeling. They did 
not cooperate promptly, nor act on all occasions har- 
moniously. Most unfortunately, too. Gen. McClellan 
did not come up in person with his army, feeling, 

23* 



270 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

doubtless, tliat Gen. Pope would prefer to manage its 
several corps separately, than to dispose of it through 
him as a whole. No one can wonder at Gen. McClel- 
lan's feelings at such a time, and after such experi- 
ences as he had just passed through ; but their 
indulgence, under the circumstances, was a serious 
detriment to the national weal, and, if a criticism may- 
be allowed, would have been sacrificed with more 
credit and honor to himself than accrued from their 
manifestation. The Army of the Potomac, if the fact 
must be stated, felt broken up when it left Alexandria, 
in isolated corps, divisions, and brigades, without 
any general officer ; and it felt only a little more so 
when it was driven back, a few days afterwards, upon 
the defences of Washington, with the loss of Kearney, 
Stevens, and many of its choicest officers and men. 
As if to make defeat a certainty, there was an unusual 
amount of blundering, confusion, and uncertainty, 
which in great armies always exist in a greater or less 
degree, and which in this instance seem to have been 
unavoidable and almost continual. 

The First Regiment, with the rest of Gen. Grover's bri- 
gade, remained at Bristow Station during most of the 
day of Thursday the 28th, watching the columns of Gen. 
Pope's army, as they marched by them in the direc- 
tion of Centreville, ransacking such abandoned camps 
and habitations as were within reach, j)rincipally for 
food ; and at three o'clock took up the line of march 
towards Manassas Junction. The Bull-Ptun battle- 
held was reached before dark ; and the mounds of the 
departed, — mostly without head-boards, — pieces of 
shells, old caps, shreds of clothing, and scraps of leather 
lying about, awakened a melanclioly interest among 



GEN. POPE'S PLAN OF OPERATIONS. 271 

most of the men, who, thirteen months and one week 
before, had trodden the same ground in conflict with 
the same haughty and insolent foe. 

Notwithstanding a smart shower which had fallen 
during the afternoon, portions of the dried grass and 
weeds which covered the battle-field were burning 
briskly, sending up dense clouds of smoke to the heav- 
ens ; and the thunder of a distant cannonade in the 
direction of Gainesville, on the Warrenton Turnpike, 
betokened a sharp engagement with the enemy. The 
troops here rested on their arms until two o'clock 
next morning, when they were called up, and marched 
rapidly in the direction of Centreville. Arriving at 
Centreville, they were halted upon the slope of a hill, 
facing Thoroughfare Gap, until a day's rations were 
served out ; and at nine o'clock they were moved for- 
ward in the direction of Gainesville, where a battle 
was then raging between a portion of the rebel 
army and Gens. Siegel's and Reynolds' divisions on the 
west. It was Gen. Pope's plan to attack Longstreet 
and Jackson simultaneously on three sides, — through 
Hooker, Kearney, and Reno on the east. Porter and 
King on the south, and McDowell and Siegel on the 
west. The latter generals commenced fighting early 
in the morning, and continued their efibrts all day. 
Gen. Hooker brought his forces along at noon. The bri- 
gade of Gen. Grover supported a battery until the middle 
of the afternoon, when, the gunners having been driven 
from their position, the infantry advanced to force 
the enemy out of the woods in front of them. Yery 
few men were visible, although bullets were flying 
about by hundreds. Upon receiving an order to charge. 
Gen. Grover very naturally asked, " Charge where ?" 



272 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

" Charge into the woods ! " was the response. " But 
who is to support me ? " he again asked. " Your sup- 
ports are close by," was responded. The general 
thought it was as well to wait, at least until they came 
in sight ; but he received another peremptory order to 
charge without delay, and reluctantly issued the com- 
mand to fix bayonets, feeling assured that he was lead- 
ing his men only to slaughter and repulse. Without 
artillery and without supports, the men advanced to- 
wards the wood. They were greeted by a furious 
discharge of musketry, which arrested their steps and 
broke their ranks at the commencement. They at 
once closed up, and pressed forward towards the ene- 
my's line, returning volley for volley, taking advantage 
of every tree behind which a man's body could be hid- 
den, and creeping from tree to tree under cover of the 
thick underbrush which constantly separated the men, 
and mingled companies and even regiments together, 
until they came so near the rebels, and poured in upon 
them a fire so rapid and deadly, that they took to flight, 
falling back upon a second line. To this, in the ab- 
sence of any orders to the contrary, they were at once 
pursued, in the face of volleys which sent a per- 
fect storm of lead cutting through their ranks, across 
the prostrate forms of killed and wounded, who fell by 
scores at every discharge, and amid an avalanche of 
branches cut from the trees by flying shot. Having 
advanced a few thousand feet, and finding that the 
enemy were inclined to yield tlie ground, it stirred the 
blood of the men, and made them determined that they 
should yield it at any rate. At this time, the advance 
of our men was firm and regular, while the forces of 
the rebels were scattered throughout tlie woods into 



GEN. GR OVER'S BRIGADE IN ACTION. 273 

disorganized gangs and clusters. Tlie Union officers, 
with conspicuous gallantry, waved their caps and 
swords in the direction of the flying foe ; while the 
troops cheered themselves hoarse as they followed, 
loading and firing as they went. They had thus passed 
beyond the confines of the forest, and reached a rail- 
road bank skirting its edges, when from the rear of the 
embankment rose at least twice their number of the 
enemy, comprising a third line which had not been en- 
gaged ; and, at a distance of only two hundred feet, 
they poured a tremendous volley into our lines, just as 
they appeared above the level of the bank. The effect 
was terrible. Men dropped in scores, writhing and try- 
ing to crawl back, or lying immovable and stone-dead 
where they fell. The fire was returned with the ut- 
most vigor and celerity ; but an hour's hard fighting 
and running had wearied our soldiers. The rebels 
were fresh : they had the advantage of position. They 
took aim at Gen. Grover as he sat on his horse, waving 
his cap upon the point of his sword. He was dismount- 
ed ; and his horse severely wounded plunged off in the 
direction of the rebels. The Union line now began 
to waver. It had no artillery and no supports. 

The enemy saw their advantage, and hastened to im- 
prove it. They advanced with yells and shouts towards 
the railroad bank ; and the Union forces sullenly fell 
back into the forest again. Through this they con- 
tinued to retire, until they had reached their former 
ground on the other side. Believing them to be in full 
retreat, the rebels were just emerging from the trees to 
follow up their advantage to the end, when they re- 
ceived an artillery fire of canister and shell which scat- 
tered them like chaff before the wind, and drove every 



274 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

remnant of their forces back into the woods whence 
they had come. For three hundred yards, the rattling 
balls searched nook and lurking-place, where, out of 
sight, sharp-shooter or skirmisher might be posted ; and 
completely silenced every hostile gun. Gen. Kearney's 
division assaulted the enemy's left towards Sudley 
Springs successfully, and drove them back fully a mile 
before dark. Gen. Porter held them in check along the 
Manassas Railroad towards Gainesville, and thus, on 
the whole the day ended advantageously to the Union 
forces. Both parties slept on the ground where they 
fought, and both received numerous reenforcements 
during the night. Most of the succeeding day was 
spent in manoeuvres, during which Gen. Grover's 
brigade was moved from one part of the field to an- 
other, — now supporting a battery that was playing 
upon some distant position in the enemy's front, — now 
standing in line to fill a gap occasioned by the looseness 
with which the troops were disposed and handled. In 
the order of battle, Gen. Heintzelman commanded the 
right, Porter and Siegel the centre, and McDowell the 
left. At three o'clock. Gen. Stevens began the assault ; 
and at the same time the enemy's batteries were opened 
along the whole line. They fired not only shot and 
shell, spherical case and canister, but railroad iron, 
which had been cut up into lengths suitable for the 
purpose, and which whizzed through the air with a 
fearful sound as it flew towards the object at which 
it was aimed. Between four and five o'clock, the fire, 
not only of artillery, but of musketry, became general 
on both sides. A fierce assault was directed towards 
our right and centre, which gradually moved along 
until it was concentrated in all its fury upon our left. 



THE FEDERAL LEFT FORGED BACK. 275 

The roll of the repeated volleys as they rose up from 
one side, and were quickly returned by the other, made 
one continuous, deafening crash ; while the thunder of 
contending cannon, and the bursting of numerous shells 
in all parts of the field, shook the ground with their 
tremendous detonations, and the accumulating volume 
of the rounds and volleys towards the left told all too 
plainly that there the enemy were endeavoring to 
break through. It was all in vain that supports and 
reenforcements were hurried to the weakened point : 
it had yielded before they arrived. For an hour, in a 
perfect tornado of deadly missiles, enveloped in smoke, 
and aiming at a foe whose proximity could only be 
known by the rattle of his musketry, the Union left, 
under McDowell, held its own. But tlien it broke. 
Wagoners, stragglers, and hangers-on about the hospi- 
tal, first scented the defeat, and took up the double- 
quick. A second Bull-Run panic seemed inevitable. 
The right, however, held its place ; and Gen. Lee wisely 
forebore pursuit across an unbridged run, with dark- 
ness rapidly approaching, and an army seriously crip- 
pled with men wounded and worn out. The demoraliza- 
tion of the left compelled the right and centre to fall 
back, however ; which was done in good order, although 
all our dead and wounded were left in the hands of 
the enemy ; and three batteries, which had been fool- 
ishly pushed forward without proper infantry support 
had to be abandoned. For several days, bridge-build- 
ers had been at work on the line of the Orange and 
Alexandria Railroad day and night to repair the struc- 
tures which the rebel raiders had set on fire and 
burned ; and in two or three places they had succeeded, 
and had removed long trains below Catlett's and Bris- 



276 THE FIB ST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

tow Stations before the battle of the 30th was fought. 
Failing, however, to finish their work before this oc- 
curred, it all proved vain ; and Gen. Banks was ordered 
to abandon the road, destroy the trains, and rejoin Gen. 
Pope at Centreville immediately. Two hundred cars 
loaded with clothing, equipments, officers' baggage, and 
supplies of every description, were accordingly fired ; 
an immense wagon-train was emptied of its contents, 
the animals detached, and the torch applied; five loco- 
motives were broken up and rendered useless ; a large 
quantity of fixed ammunition, ordnance-stores, and 
gunpowder, blown up, and the road left in rebel hands. 

It was at this time that the people of the North, 
hearing of the complete destitution of the army in 
Virginia, poured forth so lavishly their contributions 
of money, lint, bandages, cordials, jellies, liquors, food, 
clothing, blankets, dressing-gowns, and, in fact, every 
thing conceivable, which could promote the comfort, or 
minister to the wants, of a wounded soldier. 

Congregations that had gathered for the worship of 
God, on Sunday, the 31st of August, were dismissed 
with a few brief words of patriotic exhortation ; and in 
a short time ladies were busy amid piles of cloth, bun- 
dles and packages of offerings, cans of preserves, and 
rolls of goods ; gentlemen were packing and nailing 
up innumerable boxes, directed to the army ; and ex- 
press-wagons were transporting them to the cars by 
the hvmdred. The sidewalks were so covered with 
them, that people were forced to the middle of the 
street to get along at all ; and they kept coming 
from all quarters, and in such profusion, that, before 
sundown on the 31st, twenty-one hundred had been 
despatched from the single city of Boston. It was so 



DEATH OF GEN. STEVENS. 277 

tliroughout the country. Washington literally swarmed 
with persons seeking an opportunity to go out and 
alleviate the miseries of wounded soldiers, left without 
food, shelter, or help, upon the battle-field ; and some, 
who were incautious enough to venture beyond the 
Federal lines, were captured by the rebels, and held 
as prisoners of war until the rebel forces were well on 
[ their way towards Maryland. 

During Sunday and Monday, Aug. 31, and Sept. 1, 
Gen. Pope drew his right wing back to the vil- 
1 i lage of Germantown, and formed a line of battle 
upon the heights fronting the approaches to Fairfax 
Court House. He was closely pursued by the forces, 
of Gen. Lee, who, late in the afternoon of the 1st in- 
stant, arrived at Chantilly, near the Little-River Turn- 
pike, and vigorously assailed the division of Gen. 
Stevens, endeavoring to turn his left. Seeing his men 
hard pressed. Gen. Stevens exposed himself in trying 
to hold them firmly in tlieir places, and was shot dead 
by a bullet through the head. His loss greatly dis- 
concerted his command, and they began to fall back. 
Just then the division, of Gen. Kearney came up, and 
formed on the ground Gen. Stevens's soldiers had 
yielded. The fighting had taken place during a vio- 
lent thunder-storm, the rain falling in torrents, light- 
ning flashing over the combatants, and peals of thunder 
reverberating through the woods, rising sometimes 
above the roar of battle. Darkness had come with 
the storm ; and, as the enemy continued to press on, 
their numbers and situation were revealed only by the 
reports or flashes of their guns. Not knowing the na- 
ture of the country, Gen. Kearney ventured beyond 
his lines to reconnoitre a little before he led out his 

24 



2Y8 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT 

men, and was shot through the heart. As he did not 
return, Gen. Birney commanded his men to fix bayo- 
nets, and charge. This they did with such spirit and 
impetuosity, that the enemy fell back, and left them 
undisputed masters of the field. All night long, the 
soldiers anxiously awaited Kearney's return. He did 
not come. Their worst forebodings were realized the 
next morning, when his dead body was brought in 
under a rebel flag of truce. It was a sight sad indeed 
to the soldiers of his division : for he was almost idol- 
ized by them, and many a one would willingly have 
died for him. No better soldier ever drew a blade 
upon the battle-field than Gen. Philip Kearney ; and 
no man was more respected than he by the rebel chief- 
tains, who knew him well, and had often partaken of his 
hospitalities before the war. Having lost one arm in 
the Mexican War, during a charge made at the San- 
Antonio Gate, upon a battery defending the city of 
Mexico, he was accustomed to go into battle with his 
sword or reins between his teeth ; and was always to 
be found where the bullets were thickest, and the 
enemy most numerous and troublesome. It seemed 
as though his men could not believe him dead ; and 
many a brave fellow wept tears of bitter sorrow as his 
loved remains were borne away to Washington for em- 
balmment and burial. 

After the battle of Chantilly, which resulted favor- 
ably to the Union army, orders were received from 
Gen. Halleck to fall back within the defences of Wash- 
ington, for the purpose of reorganizing the different 
corps ; getting stragglers back into their places ; sup- 
plying deficiencies of ammunition, clothing, <fec. ; and 
adding to the army such new regiments, recruits, and 



THE FEDERAL ARMY IN WASHINGTON. 279 

convalescents as had arrived at the national capital. 
The retrograde movement accordingly began at once ; 
and during the 2d, 3d, and 4th of September, the roads 
leading to Alexandria and the fortifications around 
Washington, were covered with the torn and shattered 
fragments of the armies of Virginia and the Potomac, 
who, for more than two weeks of bloody and almost 
uninterrupted conflict, had been fighting and falling 
back. The troops of New England, the Middle 
States, and the West, marched along side by side, not 
disheartened, nor feeling that they had been fairly 
beaten, but poorly led. When they came in sight of 
the unfinished dome of the Capitol, a shout arose, 
which spread from regiment to regiment throughout 
the entire army ; and the determination was univer- 
sally expressed to hold that, or die in its defence. 

In company with four wounded men, — one shot 
through the body, another through the leg, another 
through the arm, and another suffering from a serious 
scalp wound inflicted by a shell, — the writer rode in an 
army-wagon from beyond Manassas Junction to Cen- 
treville, hoping to find cars there which would trans- 
port them, without jolting, to Alexandria or Washington. 
The wagon was without springs and the roads exceed- 
ingly rough ; and although these men were placed on 
hay, and made as comfortable as possible, the jerks and 
lunges of the clumsy vehicle tossed them repeatedly out 
of their position, and made them suffer excruciatingly 
every foot of the way. It was only by repeatedly 
assuring them we should soon be there, that they were 
kept in any sort of spirits, and induced to exert them- 
selves a little to prevent serious injury from the stag- 
gering of the wagon. Arrived at Centre ville, we found 



280 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

that the last train of cars had left, and orders had been 
sent back to have all sick and wounded forwarded to 
Fairfax Station, nine miles beyond. The prospect of 
a nine-mile ride, with a wagonful of wounded men, 
over such roads, was perfectly appalling; and they sent 
forth such a piteous chorus of groans and remon- 
strances, that the heart ached for them ; but there was 
no help for it, and again we started. The road before 
and behind, as far as the eye could see, was lined with 
a procession of wagons and ambulances similarly 
laden ; and from both directions our ears were con- 
tinually pained by moans and cries extorted from the 
wretched sufferers by the jogs and gullies over which 
they were driven. 

Several died from exhaustion and loss of blood be- 
fore reaching their destination. It was far into the 
night before we reached Fairfax Station ; and then, as 
if we were doomed to disappointment and misery, we 
were told that the railroad was unsafe, and no more 
trains would be allowed to pass over it while the 
enemy were about. Alexandria was eighteen miles 
farther on. Thither we must go. This was too much ; 
and one poor fellow, only strong enough to expostulate, 
cried out, — 

"• I can't do it. Let me get out ! " 

" But, my dear man, we must do it : the cars are 
stopped." 

" I can't do it : it will kill me ! " 

" Oh ! I guess not. Try and keep up." 

"I can't keep up. It will kill me: I know it will 
kill me. Let me get out ! " 

*' But there is no one here to take care of you." 



A TERRIBLE XIGHT-RIDE. 281 

"I might as well die by the roadside as in this 
wagon." 

" You will not be allowed to lie by the roadside ; 
for, in a few hours, the rebels will hold this ground, 
and make you a prisoner." 

At this the driver started, and the wounded man 
exclaimed, — 

" Hold on there ! hold on ! " 

" He cannot bold on ; for he has been ordered to 
carry you where you will be safe." 

" Stop, driver, stop ! " 

" He has no right to stop." 

" Stop, stop, for God's sake ! " 

" My dear fellow, do try and compose yourself; and 
we will all do the best we can for you." 

" I wish you had my head. I'd like to see you try 
and compose yourself." 

"No doubt you are doing much better than I could ; 
but perhaps you might do better if you tried." 

A groan was the only answer. So it was for the 
eighteen long and weary miles. The wagon lurched, 
rolled, and pitched about over the broken and uneven 
road, and at daybreak stopped before the Union Hotel 
hospital in Alexandria. A surgeon was speedily called 
out. We expected that he would make immediate 
arrangements to accomodate the men ; but he held up 
both hands, and exclaimed, — 

" Every room and every bed is full ; we have more 
than we can do. It is impossible to make a place for a 
single person more : you must drive on to Washing- 
ton." 

" Nine miles more ! " 

It was of no use to talk. One of the men would 

24* 



282 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

get out, and lie did get out. He swore he would not 
ride in that wagon another step. He would lie down 
on the sidewalk, in the street, anywhere, and die, if he 
must ; but be hauled to Washington, nine miles farther, 
he wouldn't. How he was ever gotten back to his 
place, it would be difficult to state ; but after expostu- 
lation, entreaty, coaxing, and some swearing, it was 
done, and the mules started towards the Federal cap- 
ital. It was daylight now and the road was good. By 
eight o'clock we entered the city. It seemed to be one 
vast hospital. The streets were filled with army- 
wagons, ambulances, and even hacks and private car- 
riages, pressed into the service to bring in the wounded 
from the front ; and the people seemed to be unwearied 
in their generous ministrations for the relief of their 
wants. They came out of the houses, lining the way, 
holding in their hands cups of tea and coffee, food, 
fruit, basins of water and towels, cordials, jellies, 
and preserves ; and apparently could not do enough 
for the brave men who had been battling to preserve 
their homes from the spoiler. In a short time, we 
halted before a hospital, where our wounded men 
could be received ; and, as expeditiously as possible, the 
poor fellows, worn out, bleeding and half dead, were 
borne into the building, haying suffered more during 
their ride of over twenty-four hours, than they would 
in a dozen battles. 

The following list of killed, wounded, and missing, 
at the second battle of Bull Run and at that of Chan- 
tilly, is made up from the muster-out rolls, as found in 
the State House : — 

Company A : Killed, John Martin. Wounded, Ser- 
geant John H. Miner, Corporal Edward S. Daniels, 



CASUALTIES AT BULL RUN AND CIIANTILLY. 283 

William Abrams, William Emerson, Charles H. Harper, 
Benjamin F. Pierce. 

Company B: Killed, Alvah Bicknell, George E. 
Smith, Thomas L. Glover. Wounded, Capt. George 
E. Henry, Lieut. Horatio Roberts, Sergeant Edwin S. 
Brown, Corporal Ferrier N. Christian, Luke E. Jenkins, 
Charles F. Morgan, Charles H. Brown. 

Company C : Killed, Bernard Blessington. Wound- 
ed, Sergeant John S. Clark, Thomas Gallagher. 

Company D : Killed, Hugh Calhum. Wounded, 
Corporal Frank F. Palmer, Corporal Zachariah L. Bar- 
ton, Gideon Blasland, William Claffey, Levi Estes, 
George H. Butler. 

Company E : Wounded, Lieut. Nathaniel Averill, 
Joseph H. Pierce, James Ryan. 

Company F: Killed, William Norris, William F. 
Houston, Elisha H. Fogg, Charles H. Marston. 
Wounded, Sergeant Clifton F. Kendall, Joseph H. 
Caldwell, Grin Fogg (subsequently died), Joseph W. 
Norwood. 

Company G : Wounded, Alphonzo Fisher. 

Company H: Killed, Lieut. John M. Mandeville, Sam- 
uel C. Heald. Wounded, Corporal Thomas H. Bigelow, 
Henry Mason, William H. Luke (subsequently died), 
Joseph H. Bigelow (subsequently died), Martin G. 
Tewksbury, Charles S. Everdean, William McConnell, 
Isaac Alston, William J. Dinsmore (subsequently 
died), Henry A. Pierce, George H. Green. Missing, 
Lawrence H. Kelley, John A. Luke. 

Company I : Killed, Lieut. George W. Harris. 
Wounded, Corporal Luther M. Bent (subsequently 
died). Sergeant James Finney, Franz Singer (subse- 
quently died), George A. Payne, William R. Gracie, 



284 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

♦ 

Caleb Houston, Cornelius E. Kennedy, George F. 
Marden. 

Company K : Killed, Richard McNally. Wounded, 
Hiram H. Chubbuck, Frank Hutchins, Charles M. 
Raymond. 

Names additional to the above were published in the 
papers subsequent to the battles, without company 
designations. They were privates Baxter, Chancellor, 
Currier, Pierce, Goode, and Kelly. 

Recapitulation: Killed, and subsequently died, twenty. 
Wounded, fifty-one. Missing, two. 




^%v,^r^"-^ 



/|A // 



wm._ 





CHAPTER XI. 

CAMPS AT ALEXANDRIA SEMINARY, FAIRFAX COURT 
HOUSE, AND FAIRFAX STATION. 

*' When a deed is done for Freedom, through the broad Earth's aching breast 
Runs a thrill of joy prophetic, trembling on from east to west; 
And the slave, where'er he cowers, feels the soul within him climb 
To the awful verge of manhood, as the energy sublime 
Of a century bursts full blossomed on the thorny stem of Time." 

James Russell Lowell. 

GEN. POPE'S return to Washington and Alexandria 
left the army of Gen. Lee free to besiege the Union 
capital, or to make a foray into Maryland, which had 
been one of the objects contemplated when he left 
Richmond in the beginning of August. Fearing the 
result of an assault upon the Washington defences, 
especially as Gen. Pope had been relieved, and Gen. 
McClellan again placed in command of all the forces 
operating in Virginia, and of all troops holding the 
forts and earthworks round the city, the rebel leader 
moved away from Centreville, in the direction of Lees- 
burg, on the 1st of September, and crossed the Potomac, 
without opposition, at Noland's Ford, five miles below 
Point of Rocks, on the 5th. He, his generals, officers, 
and men, expected great results to accrue from the in- 
vasion of Maryland ; that the people would everywhere 
welcome and cooperate with him ; that they would 
render him all needed material aid ; and that the able- 



286 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS BEGIMENT. 

bodied men of the State would crowd to his standard 
in such numbers as to enable him to assault Baltimore 
and Washington in the rear, and perhaps extend his 
conquests as far as Philadelphia. Accordingly, having 
entered Maryland, Gen. Lee marched immediately 
upon Frederick, the capital "of the State, distant 
forty-four miles north-west of Washington, and sixty 
miles due west from Baltimore. The city contained 
nearly nine thousand inhabitants, and was garri- 
soned by only one company of United-States regu- 
lars. Resistance was impossible ; and the Federal 
provost-marshal, after removing all the military-stores 
he could get away, burned the remainder, and left, in 
company with a large number of the most wealthy and 
influential citizens of the place. The next morning it 
was occupied by the rebels in force. They were in 
a destitute and suffering condition, but manifested 
scrupulous respect for private property ; and paid for 
all they took to subsist upon, in rebel money or green- 
backs, whichever the seller preferred. 

On the 8th of September, Gen. Lee issued a procla- 
mation to the people of Maryland, maintaining that he 
had come among them as a deliverer, denouncing the 
action of the United States, and urging them to rally 
to the rescue of their State from the bondage of the op- 
pressor. At the same time, he opened recruiting offices, 
helped himself to droves of sheep, cattle, hogs, and 
horses from the neighboring farmers, for which he paid 
the prices usually asked ; and protested that he was a 
friend, not an enemy, and intended to restore to the cit- 
izens of Maryland their ancient sovereignty and indepen- 
dence. Somehow he failed to make out a case. His 
address read well, he himself spoke well and acted well, 



THE REBEL ARMY IN MARYLAND. 287 

and everywhere his troops behaved admirably ; but the 
people did not respond. Yery few volunteers were ob- 
tained from his recruiting offices, very little material 
support from wealthy and influential friends, and very 
little enthusiasm was awakened among the professed 
adherents of the rebel cause. He saw, and his officers 
and men saw, that they had made a great, perhaps a fatal, 
mistake. Nevertheless something had to be attempted ; 
and orders were issued looking to the abandonment of 
Maryland, the capture of Harper's Ferry, and the inva- 
sion of Pennsylvania. Before they could be carried 
out, the advance of the Union army entered Frederick 
under command of Gen. McClellan, just as the rear- 
guard of the rebels had evacuated it. This compelled 
a total change in the proposed plan of operations. 
The rebels, retiring towards Hagerstown, were brought 
to a stand on South Mountain, and on Sunday, Sept. 
14, assaulted by Gens. Hooker, Burnside, Reno, and 
Franklin, in force. The battle commenced early in 
the morning, and raged until late in the afternoon. 
The rebels fought desperately for the positions which 
they had chosen ; but the Union forces fought more 
desperately to obtain them, and they succeeded. Before 
dark, several bayonet-charges threw the enemy into 
great confusion ; so that they abandoned the gaps, scat- 
tered through the woods, and finally gave, up the con- 
flict along the whole line. The Union loss in killed 
and wounded amounted to nearly three thousand, 
including the gallant Gen. Reno, who was shot through 
the body, on the left of Turner's Gap. The rebel loss 
has never been stated, but was large. Several hundred 
prisoners, three regimental flags, two pieces of artille- 
ry, and three thousand stand of arms, were captured. 



288 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

A successful assault was the next day made upon 
Harper's Ferry by Stonewall Jackson, which, owing to 
the imbecility, treason, or cowardice of the colonel in 
command, was surrendered, with eleven thousand five 
hundred and eighty-three officers and men, prisoners, 
forty-five pieces of artillery, and a large supply of am- 
munition and stores, spoils of war. The rebels were 
so hard pressed, however, that they immediately paroled 
all their prisoners, abandoned the captured town, and 
concentrated tlieir forces on a semicircular amphi- 
theatre of hills bordering the River Antietam. 

At daylight on Wednesday, the 17th, they were at- 
tacked ; and a sanguinary battle ensued, which lasted 
all day, resulting in substantial and decided success 
for the Union arms. Over thirty colors, thirteen guns, 
seven caissons, nine limbers, fifteen thousand small- 
arms, and five thousand prisoners were captured, and 
seventeen thousand of the enemy placed hors de com- 
bat^ with a loss to the Federal forces of only eleven 
thousand four hundred and twenty-six killed and 
wounded, and not a single gun or color. It was now 
the policy of Gen. Lee to get out of harm's way as 
speedily as possible. Had he been vigorously assaulted 
on the 18th, no doubt most of his shattered and ex- 
hausted forces might have been captured ; but the 
golden opportunity slipped by unimproved, and during 
the night of that day he fled precipitately across the 
Potomac, having remained in Maryland just a fort- 
night, and lost in killed, wounded, and missing, fully 
thirty thousand men. The grand idea of invading 
Maryland and Pennsylvania, of releasing the former 
State with Kentucky and Tennessee from political 
despotism, of capturing Washington and Baltimore, 



GEN. HOOKER'S DIVISION. 289 

and percliance Pliiladelpliia, with which he had left 
Richmond less than fifty days before, had utterly failed 
of realization. With diminished ranks and a disap- 
pointed spirit; he had been forced back upon the soil of 
Virginia once more, and must henceforth give up the 
aggressive, and resort to the defensive, or be entirely 
destroyed. 

After the battle of Chantilly, Gen. Pope's army con- 
tinued to fall back on Washington, taking such roads 
as would secure the desired object most expeditiously, 
and at the same time prevent the enemy from making 
a successful assault in the rear. 

Gen. Hooker's division moved before daylight, 
Tuesday morning, Sept. 2, to Fairfax Court House, 
where soft bread, and such other rations as had been 
brought up from Alexandria, w^ere served out to the 
men ; and the march continued to Fairfax Station, 
on the line of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. 
At daybreak, on the 3d, the column was again in motion 
over an uneven, thickly wooded country, in the direc- 
tion of the Potomac River ; reaching Pohick Church at 
two o'clock in the afternoon, after a rapid tramp of 
about eight miles. Taking the river road near Mount 
Vernon, the march was continued till almost night, 
when Fort Lyon was reached, and the command went 
into bivouac upon an open plain to the rear and left, 
two miles from Alexandria. Had there been wood 
and water in convenient proximity to this camping- 
ground, it would have been retained ; but, as this was 
not the case, the brigade of Gen. Grover took a new 
position the next day, three-quarters of a mile nearer 
the city, on the slope of a pleasant liill commanding 

^5 



290 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

an extensive prospect in the direction of Alexandria 
and the Potomac. 

Fort Lyon, in the vicinity, was a formidable earth- 
work, mounting twenty-six guns, with embrasures for 
several more ; and was one of the series of strong re- 
doubts thrown up for the defence of the national cap- 
ital soon after the assault upon Fort Sumter. During 
the afternoon of Sept. 5, a large number of recruits, 
who had been enlisted in Boston, especially for the 
First, by officers belonging to the regiment, arrived, and 
were duly entered upon the muster-rolls of the differ- 
ent companies. They had been marched about from 
place to place, searching for Gen. Hooker's division, 
until they had begun to think it never would be found. 
Soon after, the regimental horses and wagons were 
brought into camp, having been kept in Alexandria 
during the marching and fighting going on between 
Culpepper and Fairfax Court House. 

A large number of visitors and friends from Wash- 
ington, Boston, Boxbury, Chelsea, &c., continued to 
arrive day after day, including Mayors Wightman and 
Fay, Surgeon George H. Gay, of the Massachusetts 
General Hospital, and others, who brouglit with them 
a liberal quantity of the supplies furnished by the peo- 
ple of the Old Bay State for the wounded, sick, and 
unfortunate. 

These things, at this time, were very acceptable, in- 
asmuch as the men were destitute of every thing. 
Many of them had not changed nor washed their cloth- 
ing since they left Harrison's Landing, six weeks be- 
fore ; liaving been on the move, or held in expectation 
of a move, ever since. Some had no tents, others no 
blankets, and a few were nearly or quite barefoot. 



GEN. McCLELLAN REINSTATED. 291 

Upon Gen. Pope's arrival in Washington, he was 
immediately relieved of his position ; and Gen. McClel- 
ian reinstated in his place. The latter had command, 
not only of all the forces stationed in the defences at 
Washington, but of all that remained of the Army of 
the Potomac, the Army of Virginia, and of large 
numbers of recruits, who now began to arrive in every 
train from the North. His attention was immediately 
called to the invasion of Maryland by Gen. Lee ; and, 
in tlie army gathered to repel that invasion, he selected 
Gen. Joseph Hooker for one of his corps commanders. 
At the expressed wish of the latter, his former division 
was allowed to remain in the defences of Washington 
for a few weeks, in order to rest, recruit, and be refitted 
for the field. This is the reason why the Massachu- 
setts First Regiment was not at the battles of Soutli 
Mountain and Antietam, in Maryland. 

No sooner had the camp been established near Fort 
Lyon, than a company from each regiment in the bri- 
gade was sent out on picket. The division having been 
placed under the orders of Gen. Grover, Col. Cowdin 
was assigned to the brigade, and some staff officer was 
required to accompany the picket details every day, as 
the rebel cavalry were hovering about the outposts, in- 
tent on mischief. 

. Many of the inhabitants of Alexandria at this time 
were excessively alarmed, for fear that the whole, or 
a portion, of the rebel army, under Gen. Lee, would 
attack and bombard that city. In vain they were as- 
sured that such a thing was not to be thought of; that 
the line of forts outside would prevent their approach- 
ing within cannon-shot of the buildings ; and, in case 
they became masters of the forts, that the gunboats 



292 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

ill the river would render Alexandria entirely untena- 
ble by them under any circumstances. Many seemed 
to have resolved that they would be frightened at any 
rate ; and frightened they were, frightened they re- 
mained, until they had packed up all their valuables, 
and moved out of the city. Some of them were pro- 
fessed secessionists, and others but lukewarm uphold- 
ers of the Union ; so that they were not greatly missed. 
Meanwhile, all the churches of Alexandria, and the 
commodious residences of the runaways, were appro- 
priated by the medical department, and transformed 
into hospitals. Some protests from rebel clergymen 
or influential members of rebel flocks were entered 
against this ; but they did not receive a moment's con- 
sideration, as the case was one of such pressing neces- 
sity as to admit neither of remonstrance nor debate. 
' Alexandria at this time had lost about half of its 
original Southern population, but had filled up so rap- 
idly with a mixture of traders, Jews, sutlers, mechan- 
ics, soldiers, quartermasters', commissaries', and hospi- 
tal assistants, that it had nearly doubled its former 
number of inhabitants.! It was a place of considerable 
importance, and, until July 9, 1844, a portion of 
the District of Columbia. Being then re-ceded to the 
State of Virginia, it became, as before, the capital of 
Alexandria County, and the second city in size and 
commercial consequence in the Old Dominion. C Right 
opposite its wharves, the Potomac was a mile in width, 
forming a harbor capable of accommodating the largest 
men-of-war in the navy. Hundreds of steamboats 
and sailing craft rode at anchor here, or lay alongside 
the wharves, discharging their cargoes. Immense 
storehouses extended up into the city, filled with bags 



ALEXANDRIA. 293 

of grain, bundles of hay, barrels of beef, pork, sugar, 
coffee, rice, and beans ; boxes of hard-bread, cases of 
clothing and accoutrements, bales of blankets, and ac- 
cumulations of every kind of supplies. The city con- 
tained a court house, three banks, twelve churches, 
and several schools. It was paved, lighted with gas, 
and supplied with good water, introduced by the aid 
of machinery. 

Tlie principal streets w^ere wide and clean, some of 
the public buildings spacious and imposing, and many 
of the private residences elegant. The Marshall House 
and an old slave-pen were places of great resort among 
the soldiers ; and hardly a man of them who could get 
a furlough but paid those two spots a visit.' 

From the 4th of September until the 18th, the regi- 
ment was kept in a constant state of expectation and 
uncertainty by rumors of moving. The orders came 
finally on the 13th ; and a change of position was made 
to an elevated plain, occupied in the centre by the 
Fairfax Theological Seminary, and extending in an 
easterly direction for more than a mile towards Wash- 
ington. Upon it were several fine country residences, 
surrounded with gardens, orchards, and groves, which, 
having been abandoned by their former occupants, 
were taken possession of as hospitals or headquarters of 
brigade or division commanders. In some cases, houses 
were found to have been merely locked up when the 
army came, and nothing removed : in others, the furni- 
ture, carpets, &c., had been all taken away, and nothing 
left but naked floors and bare walls. Such property 
was generally appropriated to the use of the army in 
some way, as its abandonment seemed to indicate a 
spirit of hostility to the United-States authorities ; but, 

25* 



294 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

where owners remained in possession of their estates, 
tliey were not molested, except for the utterance of 
disloyal sentiments. A few houses upon the outskirts 
were burned or torn down; but the great majority were 
left just as tliey were found. 

It became the duty of soldiers allowed to remain in 
the defences of Washington, to make them as perfect 
as possible during the period of their stay there ; and 
hence the regiments of Gen. Grover's division took 
turns in the excavation of rifle-pits and the construc- 
tion of infantry covers, extending from fort to fort 
along the entire front of their position. They were 
also compelled to do regular picket-duty, so that abun- 
dant occupation was found for all the leisure time ac- 
cruing from their detached and secure location. 

The Fairfax Theological Seminary, comprising one 
large, central building of modern appearance, a chapel, 
and two or three other structures, had been made into 
a general hospital previous to our arrival, upon the 
grounds of which were pitched hundreds of hospital 
tents, which were succeeded by long, airy, and com- 
fortable wooden edifices, capable of accommodating 
eighty or one hundred men each. A large corps of 
surgeons, nurses, and assistants, was detailed from 
various portions of the army, and enlisted for this 
special service ; and hundreds of soldiers, sick and 
w^oundcd, w^ere brought from tlie field and from camps, 
making this one of the largest general hospitals in the 
country. 

Deaths were very frequent, amounting to eight or 
more in a single day sometimes, and seldom to fewer 
than tlu'ce, four, and five. The bodies, unless claimed 
by friends, were buried every afternoon close by the 



BANQUET IN CAMP. 295 

camp of the First Regiment ; and throughout the 
camp we were all made aware when the melancholy 
procession had started by the shrill notes of a single 
fife, invariably playing the old Spanish air known as 
"• Portuguese Hymn," and the roll of a couple of muf- 
fled drums, beaten by convalescents detached for this 
purpose. The services at the grave were singing, read- 
ing the Scriptures, a prayer, an address, and the cus- 
tomary volleys in honor of the dead. 

On the 8th of September, Capt. Clark B. Baldwin, 
of Company E, was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 
First Regiment, and Capt. Gardner Walker, of Com- 
pany C, major. They celebrated the reception of 
their commissions soon after, by a banquet in the offi- 
cers' mess-tent, at which were present a large number 
of their personal friends attached to the first brigade. 
A great variety of good things covered the well-spread 
board, which were duly attended to in the order of 
their presentation, after which toasts and speeches 
closed the proceedings of the evening. 

The rations supplied by Government at this time 
were unusually poor in quality and meagre in quan- 
tity. Had not the men received boxes from home, 
containing provisions and groceries, many of them 
must have suffered for the necessaries of life. Beside 
the regular amount of picket and fatigue duty in the 
trenches, the regiment was daily practised in rampart- 
firing at Fort Worth ; and the soldiers needed the full 
ration of food allowed by the army regulations. Re- 
veille sounded each morning at daybreak, immediately 
after which came a squad drill for the recruits. At 
eight o'clock occurred company drill, participated in 
by old members and recruits together. Battalion drill 



296 THE FIB ST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

followed dinner, at two o'clock. At half-past four 
came inspection ; and at five, dress-parade. 

In the month of September, the efforts which had 
been made for some time bj the personal friends of 
Col. Robert Cowdin to have him appointed brigadier- 
general of volunteers, for gallantry in action, resulted 
successfully ; and he received the following commu- 
nication from the War Department : — 

"War Department, WAsmNGTON, Sept. 26, 1862. 

'' Sir, — You are hereby informed that the President 
of the United States has appointed you, for distin- 
guished conduct at the battle of Williamsburg, briga- 
dier-general of volunteers in the service of the United 
States, to rank as such from the twenty-sixth day of 
September, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two. 
Should the Senate, at their next session, advise and 
consent thereto, you will be commissioned accordingly. 

" Immediately on receipt hereof please to communi- 
cate to this department, through the adjutant-general 
of the army, your acceptance or non-acceptance, and 
with your letter of acceptance return the oath herewith 
enclosed, properly filled up, subscribed, and attested ; 
and report your age, birthplace, and the State of which 
you were a permanent resident. 

" You will report for duty to the general-in-chief, 
United-States army, in person, for orders. 

" Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. 
^' Brtg.-Gen. Robert Cowdin, U. S. Volunteers.'' 

Gen. Cowdin at once bade adieu to his old com- 
mand, resigned the generalship of the first brigade 
into the hands of Gen. Joseph B. Garr, and reported 



GEN. COWDIN RELIEVED OF HIS COMMAND. 297 

at Washington for orders. He was assigned soon after 
to the second brigade, Abercrombie's division, sta- 
tioned in the vicinity of Upton's Hill, Va., with 
which lie remained for six months. When the ques- 
tion of confirming his appointment came up in the 
Senate of the United States, with a large number of 
others, he failed to receive the necessary vote of confir- 
mation, and was accordingly relieved of his command 
on the 30th of March, and compelled unwillingly to 
bid farewell to the army before the conclusion of the 
war, and return home as a private citizen. 

The service lost in Gen. Cowdin a brave and faithful 
officer ; a commander friendly, genial, and considerate 
in his treatment of his men ; and one concerning 
whom the rare statement may be made, that, from the 
time he buckled on his sword until he laid it aside 
again, one drop of intoxicating liquor never found its 
way between his lips, as a beverage. 

About the time that Gen. Cowdin took his leave, 
Gen. Grover, the division commander, also received 
an appointment in another department, and was suc- 
ceeded by Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, who, in company 
with Gens. Heintzelman and Carr, reviewed the divi- 
sion on the afternoon of Oct. 2, in the vicinity of Fort 
Runyon, immediately after his appointment. A large 
number of recruits had been added to the various 
regiments, which, with the return of wounded and 
sick who had recovered sufficiently to resume their 
duties, gave the ranks a full and cheering appearance. 

The condition of Gen. Lee's army, after he crossed 
the Potomac into Virginia, was such, that he could 
have caused considerable trouble to the forces scat- 
tered about Washington, had he seen fit to approach 



298 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

the city in force. On the 10th of October, a large body 
of his cavalry, under command of the ubiquitous 
Stuart, suddenly appeared at Chambersburg, Penn., 
set fire to the railroad depot, Government store- 
houses and machine-shops, marched the next day to 
Emmetsburg, and so on, round through Woodsborough 
and Newmarket, to Monrovia, whence he pushed on 
towards the Potomac, dividing his forces, and crossing 
mainly at Conrad's Ferry, six miles below the mouth 
of the Monocacy ; carrying with him over a thousand 
captured horses, besides a large amount of spoils, hav- 
ing gone completely round Gen. McClellan's army, in 
a circuit of little over one hundred miles. 

It was deemed advisable, on account of this condi- 
tion of things, to establish well-guarded outposts on 
all the roads leading to the Federal capital ; and the 
First Regiment was accordingly ordered to garrison 
Munson's Hill, a commanding eminence within six 
miles of Washington in a straight line. This had 
been a favorite post with the rebels in the earlier part 
of the war ; and upon the crest of the hill they had 
thrown up a circular redoubt, without the usual ditch, 
which gives height and impregnability to the walls, 
but with a strong abatis surrounding the ramparts on 
all sides. A battery of artillery accompanied the regi- 
ment into the redoubt : and the men made their 
quarters under the parapet, as closely as they could 
creep; for the season was getting late, and the nights, 
especially when there was a strong wind, were very 
cold. 

The utmost vigilance could discover nothing in the 
vicinity of tliis hill to indicate an intended approach of 
the enemy to Washington ; and, after holding it for ten 



INACTION OF THE ARMY. 299 

days, it was abandoiicled with the other outposts of the 
vicinity to join in the onward movement towards Rich- 
mond by the way of Fahnoiith and Fredericksburg. 
Of reviews and inspections, at this time, there were the 
usual number ; some being held by Gen. Carr, of the 
brigade, and others by Gen. Sickles, of the division : 
but by far the most important one was held by 
President Lincoln, Gens. Banks, Heintzelman, Sickles, 
and other distinguished men, civil and military, on 
Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 22. The weather was 
windy, dusty, and cold, and marching, in consequence, 
extremely disagreeable, but the movements were all 
executed in fine style, and gave perfect satisfaction to 
the large number of spectators who had assembled from 
Washington and Alexandria to witness them. 

■The army of Gen. McClellan remained compara- 
tively inactive after the battle of Antietam, from the 
18th of September until the 26th of October. Why it 
did so was the question and wonder of the time, and 
caused no little complaint, first against Gen. McClellan, 
secondly against Gen. Halleck, thirdly against the 
War Department, and fourthly against Gen. Meigs, 
President Lincoln, and the Administration collectively. 
No doubt a variety of causes contributed to occasion 
the delay. The rebels occupied the right bank of the 
Potomac in force, compelling Gen. McClellan, as the 
water was low, to guard the fords with large bodies of 
men, in order that the invasion of Maryland, or 
Stuart's raid into Pennsylvania, might not be repeated. 
The first, fifth, and sixth corps, after the battle of 
Antietam, were greatly in need of shoes, clothing, and 
shelter-tents, whicli could not be, or had not been, for- 
warded in sufficient quantities to supply them. And 



300 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

lastly, the cavalry, artillery, and team-horses had been 
so much exposed and overworked during the battles 
commencing with Cedar Mountain, and ending with 
Antietam, that they were worn out or broken down 
with fatigue, and fresh animals were not forwarded 
fast enough to supply the deficiency. These were the 
reasons given by Gen. McClellan and his friends for 
delaying the advance into Virginia. 

To all of them President Lincoln, Gen. Halleck, 
Gen. Meigs, and others replied, showing that the fords 
of the Potomac would not need to be guarded if the 
enemy were driven back from the other side ; that shoes, 
clothing, tents, and every species of supplies were fur- 
nished in sufficient quantities ; and fresh horses for- 
warded fast enough to enable the army to immediately 
resume the offensive. Accordingly, on the 6th of 
October, a peremptory order was transmitted to Gen. 
McClellan, instructing him to cross the Potomac and 
give battle to the enemy, or drive him South at once, 
before the wet weather set in, and while the roads were 
good. 

The advance, however, was delayed day after day, on 
various pretexts, for nearly three weeks, and did not 
commence until the morning of Sunday, Oct. 26. 
Col. Pleasanton then pushed across the Potomac at 
Berlin, followed by Gen. Burnside and all his forces in 
light marching order. The rebels made no attempt 
to dispute their progress, but prepared to abandon 
the bank of the river entirely, and fall back into the 
interior. 

The division of Gen. Sickles received an order Fri- 
day, Oct. 31, to join in the advance movement; and 
the next day, at five o'clock in the afternoon, broke 



FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE. 301 

camp at Fairfax Seminary, and took the road towards 
Fairfax Court House, bivouacking that niglit at a 
sequestered spot known as Annandale. Next morning 
the march was resumed, and continued, in company 
with the rest of the division, through Fairfax Court 
House, till within two miles of Centreville, when the 
First Regiment was detached from the brigade, and 
ordered back to do provost-duty at Fairfax Court 
House and Station. The rest of the division went on 
beyond Manassas, Bristow Station, and Warrenton, 
where a junction was effected with the main body of 
Gen. McClellan's forces, which were making regular 
advances, while the rebels were steadily falling back 
before them. Fairfax Court House derived its princi- 
pal importance from its location ; being only a small 
village, containing perhaps three hundred inhabitants. 
As it was the capital of Fairfax County, it had, of 
course, the usual court house and jail, about which, on 
three or four principal streets, clustered some sixty 
dwellings, including one church, three stores, and sev- 
eral mechanics' shops. The whole region was named 
for Sir Thomas Fairfax, a British nobleman, born in 
1690, who came to this country in 1739 to look after 
the large estates he had inherited from his mother, the 
daughter of Lord Culpepper, Governor of Virginia 
between 1680 and 1683. He was a man of considera- 
ble erudition, and quite a favorite in Englisli society ; 
but a disappointment in love made him forswear the 
fashionable world, and hurry away from home to hide 
his aching heart amid the solitudes of the Western 
continent. He owned nearly six millions of acres of 
land lying between the Rappahannock and Potomac 
Rivers, on both sides of the Blue Ridge, including a con- 

26 



302 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

siderable portion of the Shenandoah Valley. Not far 
from Mount Vernon, he erected a spacious mansion 
called Belvoir, where for several years he dispensed 
the hospitality of a cultivated English gentleman, until, 
in 1748, he made the acquaintance of George Washing- 
ton, then a boy of sixteen, engaged in surveying, who 
represented the beauties of his lordship's estate west of 
the Blue Ridge in such glowing colors, that he went 
thither to see it ; and was so much delighted, that he 
erected another residence called Greenway Court, in 
the midst of a manor of ten thousand acres, where, in 
baronial ease, dignity, and independence, surrounded 
by his dogs and horses, he lived until he was ninety- 
two years of age. He was thoroughly English in his 
love of the chase, and entertained the fox-hunting gen- 
try of the neighborhood with special liberality. Wash- 
ington continued on intimate terms with him until the 
Revolutionary War, when the nobleman declared for his 
king. The surrender at Yorktown cut him to the 
quick, and indeed seems to have hastened his death, 
which occurred shortly afterwards. Fairfax County, 
Fairfax Court House, and Fairfax Village, which is the 
capital of Culpepper County, so called after his grand- 
father the governor, seem to have been named for 
him. 

At Fairfax Court House, the provost-duty done by 
the companies was light, and without particularly ex- 
citing incident. Major Gardner Walker was provost- 
marshal of the town ; and every day stragglers from the 
army were brought in, or citizens suspected of com- 
plicity with the enemy, or prisoners who had been cap- 
tured in skirmishes, supplying to the office sufficient 
business to occupy the clerks and orderlies in waiting 



WINTER QUARTERS. 303 

as long as business hours lasted. The people of the 
place and vicinity, most of whom were unprotected 
females, their husbands having gone off in the rebel 
army, had numerous complaints to make of invasions 
of their premises, violent seizures of poultry, fence- 
rails, lumber, and other articles, and various trivial 
indignities to which they had been exposed ; for most 
of which they found there was no remedy, and were 
constrained to accept the philosopliical conclusion that 
they were the legitimate consequences of war, and 
must be endured as unavoidable. 

Householders and small farmers in and about the 
village were very desirous of special guards to protect 
them from peculation and annoyance, and considered 
themselves seriously aggrieved when their unreasonable 
demands were not complied with. 

Companies D, F, G, and H, were detached from the 
regiment soon after arriving at the Court House, and 
sent down to Fairfax Station. The rest of the com- 
panies, with the exception of C, soon after followed, and 
went into camp near the railroad just below the depot 
of the post- commissary, on the left of the common 
road leading to the River Occoquan. 

Here, on the 7th of November, occurred the first 
snow-storm of the season. The men had at the time 
nothing but shelter-tents and rubber-blankets ; and 
many of them suffered severely with the cold. It led 
to unusual activity in the construction of cabins and 
huts, and to the appropriation of every board, shingle, 
and beam which could be obtained for miles around. 
There were two churches not far from camp, one a mod- 
ern edifice of wood ; the other, more ancient, construct- 
ed of brick. The wooden building was converted into 



304 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

a hospital ; and from the brick, every thing movable 
was removed, including even the tablets on which were 
painted the Ten Commandments ; nothing being left 
but the roof and the walls. The country round about 
Fairfax Court House and Station had been occupied 
by the enemy in considerable force ; and several well- 
filled graveyards in the vicinity of their former camp- 
ing-grounds showed that they had suffered severely by 
sickness and death. 

It was necessary for the regiment not only to guard 
the Station, where several trains to and from Alexan- 
dria made daily stops, bringing up recruits, supplies, 
and munitions of war to the front, but also to picket 
the entire position and several miles of the track up 
and down the road. Instead of sending companies 
out from the central camp every morning, to be dis- 
tributed along the track, certain companies were 
chosen to attend to this duty permanently ; and they 
constructed outpost camps for their special comfort 
and convenience, which were models of military com- 
pactness and Yankee ingenuity. From these the 
picket-stations branched out, each man within sup- 
porting distance of the next ; and this led to the for- 
mation of the picket-telegraph, by which orders, mes- 
sages, and news items were sent from man to man, over 
miles of space, almost as quickly as they could be con- 
veyed by electricity. 

On the 8th of November, the whole army was star- 
tled with the tidings that Gen. McClellan had been 
removed and ordered to report to Trenton, N. J., and 
that Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside had been appointed to 
succeed him in command of the forces then advancing 
upon Fredericksburg. Gen. McClellan was still a fa- 



PICKET DUTY ALONG THE RAILROAD. 305 

vorite with many of the troops ; and to them his re- 
moval, occasioned, as they believed, by political hostility, 
was exceedingly distasteful. The majority, however, 
did not care who led them, provided he led to victory. 

On Monday, Nov. 10, Gen. McClellan held a part- 
ing review of such of the troops as he could con- 
veniently gather in the vicinity of Warrenton, for the 
purpose of taking a formal and final farewell. He 
rode a handsome horse, splendidly caparisoned, was 
accompanied by an imposing retinue of staff' and gen- 
eral officers, and was greeted along the lines by demon- 
strations of unmistakable respect and affection. On 
the next day, he took a special train for Alexandria and 
Washington. At every station on the road, the troops 
were drawn up with arms at the "Present ! " salutes of 
artillery were fired, the soldiers cheered, and the gen- 
eral bowed his thanks, or, if there was time, urged 
those who crowded round the cars to stand by Gen. 
Burnside as they had stood by him, and all would be 
well. The loyal, manly, and patriotic spirit shown by 
Gen. McClellan during the whole of this trying ex- 
perience cannot be too highly commended. 

While on picket along the railroad track in stormy 
weather, the men were accustomed to improvise such 
shelter as they were able, by stretching their rubber- 
blankets across poles, or rails, and creeping under them 
for protection. They also dug lioles, or caverns, in the 
bank, which was of sand, or clay, and easily excavated. 
An unfortunate accident on the 20th of November put 
an end to this practice, and caused the death of 
Henry S. Bailey, of Company H, who was on picket at 
the time. In company with another man, he was lying 
asleep in such a cavern, when the moisture of the earth 

26* 



306 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT, 

caused the roof to fall in, coYering him to the depth 
of several feet with the loose sand. His companion, 
being near the mouth of the cave, extricated himself 
from his perilous situation as soon as possible, and 
shouted for assistance. When it came, the utmost 
despatch was used in removing the sand and soil rest- 
ing upon young Bailey ; but he was reached too late. 
Life had been extinct several minutes. He seemed to 
liave been smothered at once. The body was buried 
in the yard of the wooden church used for a hospital 
at the Station ; and a neat wooden head-board, inscribed 
with his name, age, company, regiment, and date of 
death, was erected by his comrades. 

In the camp at Fairfax Station could be found some 
very neat and cosey cabins constructed by the troops 
for winter-quarters. They were hardly completed, 
however, when orders were received for the regiment 
to immediately rejoin the division, which was then en- 
camped in the vicinity of Wolf's-Run Shoals. Wolf's 
Run was a tributary to the Occoquan, six miles from 
Fairfax Station. It was a sore trial to the men to 
leave their pleasant habitations ; but there was no help 
for it : and on the morning of Nov. 25, they start- 
ed, reaching Wolf's Run about noon. The water 
was ice-cold, and the bottom of the Run strewn with 
loose, slippery stones ; making the passage both disa- 
greeable and dangerous. Several men fell, and one 
wagon capsized, turning nearly all its contents into 
the stream. Upon the opposite side the regiment was 
ordered to go into bivouac, and wait for a train of 
wagons loaded with hospital supplies, expected soon 
to arrive from Washington. Thanksgiving Day, the 
27th, found them still waiting, and brought with it, 



THANKSGIVING DAY IN CAMP. 307 

by express, a large number of boxes for the regiment, 
containing good things from home, and a special feast 
for Company E (the Pulaski guards), accompanied by 
a delegation of South-Boston gentlemen mainly instru- 
mental in securing its collection, and seeing it safe 
through to its happy recipients. Above the camp was 
an abandoned rebel earthwork, sheltered from the 
wind, spacious, sightly, and affording an admirable 
place for a Thanksgiving dinner ; and there the tables 
were accordingly spread. Never was New England's 
honored feast more thoroughly appreciated, or more 
heartily enjoyed. Full justice was done to the ample 
supplies provided ; and the proceedings concluded by 
speeches from several of the invited guests and mem- 
bers of the company. 

The expected wagon-train did not arrive until the 
evening of Nov. 30, having been delayed by some diffi- 
culty in obtaining the requisite supplies, and by the 
broken and miry condition of the roads. On the morn- 
ing of Dec. 1, the march was resumed ; and before 
night the command went into bivouac at Dumfries, on 
the north side of Quantico Creek, about two and one- 
half miles from its mouth. Formerly this had been a 
thriving and prosperous place, containing two churches, 
a flour-mill, woollen factory, and several stores ; and 
carried on quite a trade by way of Quantico Creek, 
the Potomac, and Chesapeake Bay, with Washington 
and Baltimore. But every thing had apparently fallen 
into decay ; not over one hundred inhabitants remain- 
ing in the place, and most of those were women. 

Close by Dumfries were seen the camps occupied by 
the rebel forces during the winter of 1861-2, when 
the First Regiment was at Budd's Ferry, indicating 



308 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

that not less than ten thousand men had been encamped 
there at one time. 

The march was resumed on the next day, and con- 
tinued, without unusual incident, to Stafford Court 
House, an insigificant settlement near Aquia Creek, 
containing a court house, jail, store, and half a dozen 
dwelling-houses. About noon, Dec. 3, the regiment 
came up with the rest of the division, and encamped 
in a thick pine wood, equidistant from the Aquia-Creek 
Railroad in the rear, and the Rappahannock River in 
front. 




^_ 










i' 



CHAPTER XII. 

BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 

" The grand old earth shakes to the tread of the Norsemen, 
Who meet, as of old, in defence of the true. 
All hail to the stars that are set in their banner ! 
All hail to the red, and the white, and the blue ! 
As each column wheels by, 
Hear their heart's battle-cry, — 
It was Warren's, — ' ' Tis sweet for our country to die / ' " 

T. B. ALDRica. 

THE appointment of Gen. Burnside to command 
the Army of the Potomac had been entu-ely un- 
solicited on his part. He rather shrank from the 
responsibilities of such an important position ; but his 
patriotism was of such a self-sacrificing quality, that 
he allowed himself to be persuaded into its acceptance. 
As a man, he had the confidence and respect of every 
person in the army : as a great general, required to 
manoeuvre and control one hundred and twenty thou- 
sand men, it was felt that he had not had sufficient 
experience. 

The troops were in admirable condition and good 
spirits when he assumed the reins, and, being numeri- 
cally ahead of the rebel forces to the extent of thirty 
thousand men, his friends were confident he would 
force Lee back upon Richmond in course of the win- 
ter. The seven corps composing the army were or- 
ganized into three grand divisions ; the second and 
ninth corps forming the right grand division ; the first 



310 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

and sixth corps, the left; the third and fifth, the cen- 
tre ; the eleventh corps to constitute a reserve, with 
such assignments of cavahy, artillery, and recruits as 
the exigencies of the service might require. On the 
right, Gen. E. V. Sumner was in command ; on the 
left, Gen. W. B. Franklin ; in the centre, Gen. Joseph 
Hooker. Gen. F. Siegel commanded the reserves. 

The direction of the Union forces was first towards 
Gordonsville, so that, to prevent himself from being cut 
off from Richmond, Gen. Lee was obliged to fall back 
with considerable haste. Stonewall Jackson attempted 
to distract the attention of Gen. Burnside's forces by 
occupying a portion of the country looking towards the 
valley of the Potomac ; but it was discovered that his 
movement was only a feint, and nothing came of it. 

Warrenton was evacuated by the Union army on 
the 15th of November, and the line of march taken up 
towards Fredericksburg. Gen Lee fell back simulta- 
neously, and occupied Gordonsville, keeping the bulk 
of his forces parallel with tlie columns of Gen. Burn- 
side, and about forty or fifty miles to the left and 
rear. 

Supplies were sent to Aquia Creek, and the railroad 
thence to Falmouth was put in complete repair for 
their transmission. 

Gen. Sumner, at the head of the right grand divi- 
sion, reached Falmouth on the 20th of November, 
which he occupied without resistance. This pleasant 
and thriving town, situated on the left bank of the 
Rappahannock, sixty-four miles north of Richmond, 
was the grand rendezvous for Gen. Burnside's forces. 
It was nearly opposite Fredericksburg, surrounded 
with hills sloping to the river, and had been a place 



FREDERICKSBURG. 311 

of considerable business and wealth. It contained one 
church, thirteen stores, eighty dwelling-houses, six 
flour and grist mills, various mechanics' shops, and 
five hundred inhabitants. The bridges connecting it 
with Fredericksburg had been destroyed, so that what- 
ever communication existed between the residents was 
carried on by means of boats. 

Fredericksburg, right opposite, and extending below 
for a distance of one mile, was delightfully located 
along the river bank, in a broad basin of land skirted 
by a semicircular range of hills overlooking the city 
in every direction. It was named hi honor of Prince 
Frederick, father of George III., and' settled long be- 
fore tlie Revolutionary War. Washington's father 
lived here several years, while George was a boy ; and 
the remains of his mother still lie in a field near the 
handsome family mansion they formerly occupied. 

Previous to the war, Fredericksburg exported flour, 
grain, tobacco, leather, &c., worth four millions a year. 
In 1860 its population was over five thousand, and con- 
stantly increasing. Its people were generally disloyal, 
having been infected with the sophistry of Gen. Lee, — 
that they must go with their State, without regard to 
tlie nation ; as though a man owed greater allegiance 
to one thirty-sixth of a great country, because he hap- 
pened to be born on its soil, than to the remaining 
thirty-five thirty-sixths ! The manufactories of the 
city, at this time, were producing clothing, subsist- 
ence, and munitions of war for the rebel army ; and 
these it had been determined to close or destroy. On 
the 21st of November, Gen. Sumner sent to the mayor 
and common council a formal demand for the surren- 
der of the city, alleging that his troops had been fired 



312 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

upon from the houses ; and tliat the mills, railroads, 
and other resources of the people, had been devoted to 
the extension of aid and comfort to the enemy ; 
threatening, in case his demand was not complied 
with, to shell the town, after allowing a sufficient time 
for the removal of women, children, the aged, and the 
sick. Mayor Slaughter responded, in behalf of the 
citizens, that the firing complained of was the act of 
rebel soldiers having no residence in the city, and no 
connection with the municipal authorities ; that tlie 
mills and factories should be stopped forthwith; but 
that the city could not be surrendered, the generals 
in command of the rebel forces near by having positively 
forbidden it, as they neither intended to occupy it them- 
selves, nor to allow the Union forces to do so. It is 
possible, had Gen. Sumner immediately entered Freder- 
icksburg in force, that the disaster which followed might 
have been averted; but he proceeded to parley with tlie 
authorities, which gave the rebels time to throw up 
formidable earthworks on the surrounding hills, and 
gather together most of their army in the immediate 
vicinity. There was also an unaccountable delay in 
forwarding from Washington the pontoon-trains needed 
to make the passage of the Rappahannock ; so that, by 
the time all the grand divisions of the Union army had 
arrived in front of Fredericksburg, Gen. Lee had massed 
his forces in the rear of it. Along the banks of the 
Rappahannock, which, at this point, is only a few 
hundred feet wide, the pickets of both armies were 
posted ; the Union pickets being on the Falmouth side, 
and the rebels on the Fredericksburg side. They had 
entered into an agreement not to fire upon each other, 
spending their time in watching such of the operations 



PREPARATIONS FOR THE ATTACK. 313 

as they could see on either side, or by jeering each 
other, until it was forbidden by the officers. Some 
trading was carried on by means of shingles launched 
upon the river, freighted with tobacco or papers, and 
driven across by the wind ; but most of these invest- 
ments resulted in loss, much to the disgust of the ad- 
venturers. The rebel pickets were so near, that our 
men could see how poorly they were clothed, and hear 
them complain that they were only half fed. Frequently 
there was but one overcoat to three of them, and as 
they relieved each other this was passed from one to 
the other. There was no such destitution as this in 
our army, although regiments were compelled to wait 
occasionally several days before their requisitions were 
fully met. 

Gen. Burnside, having discovered that the enemy 
did not anticipate his crossing the Rappahannock in 
front of Fredericksburg, prepared to do so without 
delay. 

The pontoons had been floated down Quantico Creek 
from Dumfries, and carried to Aquia-Creek Landing 
by water. Thence they were conveyed on the cars to 
Falmouth ; and, during the night of Dec. 10, trans- 
ported to the river for use the next day. 

The troops were supplied with sixty cartridges 
apiece, and subsistence for three days. One hundred 
and forty-three pieces of artillery were posted, com- 
manding every foot of Fredericksburg soil ; and long 
before daylight on the 11th, the men were roused 
from their slumbers, and made ready for the approacli- 
ing conflict. The morning was cold and still ; and the 
smoke from thousands of fires having become chilled 
rested upon the ground, and covered it like a cloud. 

27 



314 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

It was impossible for the rebels to observe, on this ac- 
count, what we were about; and considerable progress 
had been made before daybreak, when they became 
aware of our designs. Immediately a brisk fire of 
musketry was opened upon the engineers and their 
assistants, which at once interrupted proceedings, and 
drove them back from the bank of the river. The 
houses on the opposite shore afforded admirable cover 
for the enemy's sharp-shooters, who rested their guns 
across the sills of the windows, and picked off officers 
and men at their leisure. 

Under cover of the surrounding hills, the pontoniers 
re-formed, and again advanced to their perilous under- 
taking. It was now daylight : the smoke was liftuig ; 
and the persons of the bridge-builders were fully ex- 
posed to view. The rebels had strengthened their 
picket-line ; and all their rifle-pits were full of sharp- 
shooters, pouring, not single shots, but whole volleys, 
upon the devoted men wlio were endeavoring to lay 
the pontoons. To persist in the undertaking was 
almost certain death. Planks, boats, and wagons, as 
well as men, were riddled with the flying balls ; and 
again the effort was abandoned, and the working-party 
fell to the rear. 

Orders were now given for the artillery to open upon 
the town, which were obeyed at once. The concussion 
was tremendous. Most of the guns were as large as, 
or larger than, twelve-pounders ; and some were thirty- 
two-pounders. They were all worked with a will, and 
the incessant discharges joined in one continuous and 
deafening roar. They fired mainly shells, which flew 
through the streets in every direction, perforating 
buildings, knocking down chimneys, and setting fire 



THE PASSAGE OF THE RIVER. 315 

to half a dozen habitations at ouce. Houses which 
had sheltered sharp-shooters were made targets for a 
specially energetic fire ; and speedily they were cleared, 
the former occupants retreating to the rear of the 
town, where they were out of harm's way. 

Under cover of the artillery, another attempt was 
made to go on with laying the pontoons ; but a suffi- 
cient number of the rebels had remained in their rifle- 
pits to render this almost as hazardous as before, and 
a third time it had to be given up. 

It was now afternoon, the best part of the day had 
gone, quite a number of men had been killed or wound- 
ed, and nothing was accomplished. Some one sug- 
gested that voUmtcers go over in the pontoons by 
boat-loads, clear out the rebels from their rifle-pits and 
hiding-places, and hold the town until the bridges 
could be thrown across. It was immediately acted 
upon. A large number of men from the Nineteenth 
Massachusetts and Seventh Michigan Regiments hur- 
ried down to the river, launched the boats, filled 
them, pushed over, landed, rushed up the bank, into 
the buildings and over the rifle-pits near them, chasing 
the flying rebels from house to house and corner to 
corner, until they fell back from the rear of the town, 
and disappeared beyond the crest of the hill. There 
was no longer any obstacle to the completion of the 
bridges. They were laid as expeditiously as possible ; 
and the whole of Gen. Sumner's grand division crossed, 
with a portion of Gen. Hooker's. During all this 
time, the rebels had used nothing but small-arms. 
Their batteries had not responded to our artillery^fire 
by a single shot ; and when Gen. Sumner's troops were 



316 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

filing across the bridges, in plain sight of their posi- 
tion, they made no effort to prevent it. 

The city presented a scene of destruction and ruin 
which seemed truly deplorable. Walls were breached ; 
roofs crushed in ; fronts rent, shattered, tottering ; in- 
teriors demolished ; a dozen homes burning ; dwellings 
and furniture alike left by the frightened inhabitants, 
most of whom had departed from the city, and were 
then encamped in the woods beyond. 

Among those who went over the river with the Nine- 
teenth Massachusetts Regiment, before the bridges 
were done, was the Rev. Arthur B. Fuller, former 
chaplain of the Massachusetts Sixteenth Regiment. 
He had just been mustered out of service on account 
of ill health, and had come on to pay a farewell visit 
to the regiment as they started for Fredericksburg. 
The Sixteenth was not called upon to cross with the 
Nineteenth ; but Mr. Fuller, standing upon the bank, 
and seeing the boats pushed off, became seized with a 
desire to go in one of them ; and so obtained a mus- 
ket, and went over with the rest. In the melee which 
occurred as soon as the men had scaled the bank 
and begun to advance along the streets, Mr. Ful- 
ler was shot through the side and breast, and in- 
stantly killed. He was robbed of his watch and mon- 
ey, and a portion of his clothing ; but his body was 
recovered in the afternoon, and sent North for inter- 



•5 

ment. 



Nothing could have been more admirable and gallant 
than the passage of the river in open boats, exposed, 
every inch of the way, to a galling and destructive fire, 
by these brave men from Massachusetts and Michigan. 
What the bombardment of seven long hours, involving 



THE PASSAGE OF THE RIVER. 317 

an expenditure of tons of shot and shell, had failed 
to accomplisli, about four hundred resolute fellows 
achieved in less than one. Every effort was made by 
the rebels to prevent the passage of the boats. From 
all their lurking-places, they poured in an angry and 
rapid fire, riddling the pontoons, and killing and 
wounding manyof tlie occupants; but as soon as they 
reached* the opposite bank, and rushed up to the as- 
sault, — from an hundred concealments, stone walls, 
earthworks, cellars, and vacant buildings, they started 
up, and tried to scramble away. Many of them were 
brouglit down by Union bullets; and over eighty were 
secured, and sent back as prisoners. 

Until dusk, on the 11th, the crossing conthiued ; not 
only Fredericksburg, but a large portion of the plain 
above, below, and beyond it, being occupied by our 
forces. The remainder bivouacked on the Falmouth 
side, turning in as they stood, without regard to tents. 
The night was frosty, and the next morning similar 
to that which preceded it. Owing to the dense cloud 
of smoke which obscured every thing from view, move- 
ments were not so rapid as otherwise they would have 
been. Crossing recommenced early, and continued 
all day on the 12th. 

In the afternoon, some rebel guns from the batteries 
nearest the city opened upon it ; but a few shots from 
the Union side silenced them, and they remained quiet 
the rest of the day. From morning until night, the 
First Regiment stood upon the bank watching the 
passage of the bridges, and waiting their turn to go 
over with the rest. Artillery-firing had been slight and 
irregular ; and, after the rebel sharp-shooters had been 
routed from the town, the musketry ceased altogether. 

27* 



318 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Just before dark, orders were issued to divide Gen. 
Hooker's grand division, sending a portion of it 
with the right under Gen. Sumner, and the rest with 
the left under Gen. Franklin. The latter officer had 
met with no obstacle in building his bridges, inasmuch 
as right in front of the place he had chosen was an 
open plain swept in every direction by the fire of his 
])atteries. The division of Gen. Sickles marched to 
his support, and reached a forest bordering the river- 
side about seven o'clock. They went into bivouac 
here, and remained until morning. From neighboring 
hill-tops nearly all his forces could be seen, stretched 
across an open plain, beyond which were woods and ris- 
ing ground held by the enemy. The rebels had taken 
advantage of the natural defences of the country, and 
posted their troops from Fort Royal, below Fredericks- 
burg, in two lines, to Guinney's Station on the Rich- 
mond and Fredericksburg Railroad ; thence to the 
Telegraph Road, and thence to a point west of Mas- 
saponax Creek, six miles above Fredericksburg. 

Their best generals were all present, including Lee, 
Jackson, Longstreet, Stuart, and Hill. Their troops 
were spread like the outer portion of a lady's folding 
fan, when it is open. Ours were gathered together 
like the inner portion. From whatever part of the po- 
sition held by them the Union forces attempted to ad- 
vance, the rebels could pour upon them a concentric 
fire, under which, if kept up, it was utterly in vain 
for men to attempt to stand. This was not known, of 
course, on the morning of Saturday, the 13th ; but 
it was found out afterwards, at a fearful cost. 

Before noon of the 13th, Gen. Sickles' s division 
was ordered across the river to occupy an open field 



FURIOUS FIGHTING ON THE LEFT. 319 

in the front line of battle between Gen. Franklin's 
forces on the left, and the rest of Gen. Hooker's 
grand division on the right. As they advanced across 
the plain, a few cannon-shots were fired over their 
heads, but otherwise their advance was not disputed, 
until they came within rifle-shot of the rebel position, 
just in the rear of a line of skirmishers whom they 
were to relieve. 

All the morning a furious conflict had been raging 
on the left, caused by a galling fire from some rebel 
guns which the Ninth New- York Regiment was ordered 
to charge upon, and, if possible, capture. They made 
the charge, but failed to effect the capture, the enemy's 
artillery being too strongly supported. Gen. Tyler or- 
dered forward a brigade ; but the rebel commander 
opposed to him did the same thing, and again the 
Union forces failed to accomplish their object. Deter- 
mined not to be foiled, a general assault was ordered ; 
and as this took the rebels somewhat at a disadvantage, 
on account of our numerical superiority, they began 
gradually to fall back. The ground was contested 
with pertinacious obstinacy, however, and yielded to 
our advancing columns only inch by inch. Two or 
three times, counter charges were attempted, one of 
which resulted in the capture of a large number of 
rebel prisoners. The right flank of Lee's army was 
evidently turned, as his line was driven back a mile, 
and at dark our forces held the ground gained. 

On the right we had not succeeded so well. The 
rebels were under cover, and their position could on- 
ly be taken by storm. Our men were ordered to fix 
bayonets, and charge. There was an open plain to 
cross, perhaps half a mile wide. It was commanded 



320 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT, 

first by a long stone wall, which had been strengthened 
by earth, and was held by a large force of sharp-shoot- 
ers. Above was a row of light batteries, designed 
to throw canister and spherical case ; and, higher up 
still, heavier guns, located in splendid field-works, and 
supported by brigades of infantry. At the right and 
left, other batteries were planted, enfilading the po- 
sition, and rendering an assault almost certain death. 
The order to charge was given, nevertheless ; and our 
brave troops attempted to carry it into execution ; but, 
the moment they exposed themselves, the murderous 
missiles of lead and iron flew in every direction. Kifle- 
pits, batteries, hill-tops, and stone wall blazed with fire, 
and hurled a perfect avalanche of cannon-balls and 
bullets through their ranks. They were literally 
mowed down by hundreds. Great chasms were opened 
in their lines by canister and shell, and whole company 
fronts, broken up into little squads, reeled and stag- 
gered in the midst of the tempest of death. But 
again and again they closed up. Again and again 
they pressed forward over the mangled and prostrate 
forms of their comrades. Three times thrown into 
disorder ; three times quivering, faltering, hesitating ; 
three times they were steadied, brought together, and 
led onward again. TJiey had crossed the plain, and 
almost reached the stone wall at its base, when whole 
divisions of the enemy rose up on top of the hill, and 
poured a terribly destructive fire, at short range, right 
into their faces. Flesli and blood could not endure it. 
The centre halted, wavered, and turned back. The 
whole line followed, pursued by the same terrific vol- 
leys which had greeted their advance in the beginning, 



REPULSE OF THE FEDERAL TROOPS. 321 

mingled with shouts and yells from the enemy, exult- 
ing over our discomfiture. 

As soon as it could be done with safety to his own 
men, Gen. Sumner opened with all his artillery upon 
the rebel position, and forced the vociferating crowd 
under cover again. In the centre, commanded by 
Gen. Hooker, whose grand division had been consider- 
ably weakened to reenforce Franklin, skirmishing com- 
menced early in the day and continued until late in 
the forenoon, accompanied by a rapid cannonade, par- 
ticipated in by both parties, without much apparent 
result, on account of the dense and smoky condi- 
tion of the atmosphere. Artillery seemed to have 
no effect upon the rebels, as they were perfectly 
shielded behind their earthworks and intrenchments. 
At noon, therefore, an effort was made to dislodge 
them with the bayonet. The troops formed in plain 
sight of the enemy, and charged up to within five 
hundred yards of his works, but were received with 
such rapid and withering volleys, that their progress 
became slower and slower, and finally was arrested 
altogether. Reenforcements were sent forward, and 
some advance made ; but, for every moment's stay, 
our loss in killed and wounded was so heavy, that, be- 
tween five and six in the afternoon, the infantry fell 
back beyond range of the rebel fire ; and the artillery 
alone renewed tlie battle, keeping it up until late into 
the night. 

Thus closed the 13th. No advantage had been 
gained by the Union forces, except on the left by Gen. 
Franklin. For some reason, this advantage was not 
followed up. Thousands of men had been killed, 
wounded, and taken prisoners ; most of the killed and 



322 THE FinST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. ^ 

wounded lying in such a position between the two 
lines, that they could not be approached for burial or 
relief. Several regiments having been caught in a 
valley between two hills, fronting the enemy and 
swept by their guns along every rod of the summits, 
were compelled to lie there, hugging the ground to 
keep beneath the line swept by the rifle-balls, all day 
aud part of the night. No sooner did a man lift his 
head, than he became the target for half a dozen or 
more sharp-shooters, who fired at everybody they could 
see within range of their weapons. 

The night of the 13th closed in clear and cool. The 
First Regiment lay in a corn-field, still rough with the 
ridges of the last summer's harvest. The ground was 
soft enough, but damp and chilly. No fires were aK 
lowed, for fear of drawing the enemy's volleys; and the 
men lay all night, shivering and in suspense, between 
the furrows of the corn-field. Occasionally a gun was 
discharged ; but for most of the night the silence was 
unbroken, except by the axes of rebel woodchoppers, 
who spent the hours between dark and daylight in 
fortifying their position, expecting that it would be 
assaulted the next day. 

At daybreak, the skirmishers began their duels again, 
and continued them for most of the day! AVhoever 
approached the Union front did it at the peril of his 
life ; and the relief of skirmishers was the occasion of a 
specially vigorous fusillade. 

Early in the morning, the rebels attempted to shell 
our brigade, by running out cannon to a position in 
front of their main line ; but a company of riflemen 
from the Second New-Hampshire Regiment, having 
taken an advanced position within a few hundred 



SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES. 323 

yards, drove gunners, officers, and horses in confusion 
from their pieces, and kept tliem quiet for the rest of 
the day. 

By mutual consent, the firing ceased at noon ; and, 
permission having been obtained to bring in our 
wounded, a suspension of hostilities was agreed upon. 
Sharp-shooters, skirmishers, and soldiers from the near- 
est lines of battle, immediately left their places, and 
advanced towards the rebels, while they, in turn, came 
forward to meet our men. It presented one of the 
strangest sights to which the war had given rise. 

Rebels and Unionists of all ranks were mixed up 
together, talking in the most frank and cordial manner, 
as though they had always been friends and intended 
ever to remain so. Large quantities of tobacco were ex- 
changed by the rebels for Northern papers, chiefly picto- 
rials, which they regarded with great favor. A couple 
of officers, — one Union, the other Rebel, — played 
a game of cards ; and several other groups took a drink 
of whiskey together, and toasted, — one side the Federal 
arms, and the other the Rebel. As usual, the rebels 
were confident of final success, but acknowledged that 
they had been compelled to do a great deal of hard 
fighting, and might be forced to do a great deal more. 
In two or three instances, soldiers on opposite sides, 
who had been friends or acquaintances before the 
war, recognized each other, and discussed the merits 
of their respective parties with all the avidity of 
thorough-bred politicians at some general nominat- 
ing convention. 

As soon as the ambulances and stretcher-bearers 
had finished their work, the truce terminated ; and the 
parties separated, half reluctantly, as it were, some in 



324 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

a spirit of banter and brag, and others with manifesta- 
tions of real friendhness and good-will. Another night 
of comparative quiet succeeded, broken only by the 
ring of axes, and the clatter of intrenching tools in the 
neighboring woods, showing that the enemy anticipated 
a second advance on our part, and were making pre- 
parations to give us a warm reception when we under- 
took it. Along certain portions of our own line, slight 
earthworks were thrown up, barely sufficient to cover 
infantry ; but no attempt was made to construct regu- 
lar intrenchments. 

Monday, the 15th, brought with it no renewal of the 
conflict on either side. Both parties occupied rela- 
tively the same position, and carried on a scattering 
and irregular fire, which did very little harm. Sunday 
and Monday, Fredericksburg had been in possession of 
our troops ; and many of its houses were used as hos- 
pitals for our sick and wounded men. The streets 
were strewn with the wreck of houses, furniture, and 
war material, scattered about during and subsequent 
to the bombardment of the 11th. Turn wherever you 
might, your eye would be greeted, with the ruinous re- 
sults caused by Union artillery. Hardly a house but 
had been penetrated, and many had been scored from 
cellar to garret, by the flying projectiles. The Bank 
of the State of Virginia, with a large number of other 
business and dwelling-houses, had been reduced to 
ashes ; streets and sidewalks were piled up with bricks, 
knocked off the roofs or fallen from the burning dwell- 
ings ; doors were burst in, windows broken open ; 
spacious habitations were standing silent, tenantless, 
and emptied of furniture, excepting a few old chairs 
and tables, not worth carrying away ; while whole 



ORDER TO RECROSS THE RIVER. 325 

streets, deserted, desolate, forsaken, echoed only to 
the tread of some Union sentinel, as he paced to and 
fro on his solitary beat. 

Of the former inhabitants, only fifteen or twenty 
families remained during the bombardment ; and they 
saved themselves from destruction only by retiiing to 
their cellars. They were mostly Union people, who 
had determined to abide the issue of the battle, which- 
ever way it terminated. 

Night closed on the 15th, without any change of 
position on either side. Except an occasional dis- 
charge along the skirmish line, there had been no 
renewal of the assault by the Union forces ; and the 
rebels manifested an obstinate determination to remain 
in their intrenchments, and act entirely on the defen- 
sive. 

It was considered possible to drive them out of these 
at the point of the bayonet ; but the accomplishment of 
such an undertaking would involve so fearful an ex- 
penditure of human life, that Gen. Burnside and his 
grand-division commanders shrank from the endeavor. 
Orders were therefore promulgated to keep up a show 
of force along the skirmish line and front line of battle 
till late into the night, and then to fall back as quietly 
as possible to the other side of the river. It is astonish- 
ing how much quicker the forces came back than they 
went over, — nearly two days in getting across, they 
returned inside of eight hours. 

Special guards were posted to keep the fires burning 
brightly along the stations of the reserves, and make 
such other demonstrations as would most effectually 
cover and conceal the retrograde movement. The 
artillery was sent back first, that the guns might be 

28 



326 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

stationed so as to cover the retreating columns, if they 
were assaulted and forced to give battle. Next came 
the ammunition and supply trains, ambulances and 
hospital-wagons, and, last of all, the infantry and cav- 
alry. 

Just as the movement began, dark clouds covered the 
heavens with their obscuring shadows ; and a strong 
wind arose, which roared through the forest, and drove 
the branches of the trees against each other, making 
such a clatter as completely to render inaudible the 
rumbling of wheels over roads and bridges, the tink- 
ling of spurs and sabres, and the jingle of dippers, 
bayonet-scabbards, and infantry accoutrements, — 
sounds always heard whenever an army is in motion. 

At two o'clock in the morning, the Massachusetts 
First, which had been retained on the skirmish line to 
the last moment, began cautiously to move to the rear. 
Not a sound came from the woods in front, not an in- 
dication was observable that the enemy suspected our 
intention to retire. The bridges were reached in safety, 
crossed, and taken up before daylight, without the loss 
of a man ! 

Soon after three o'clock, the dark clouds which had 
arisen in the earlier part of the night poured forth a 
deluge of rain, which continued until after daybreak. 
This served more effectually to keep the rebels unob- 
servant, while, at the same time, it added to the diffi- 
culties attending a pursuit. Soon after daybreak there 
was considerable commotion along their lines, as they 
opened their eyes and found that their neighbors of the 
evening previous had moved away during the darkness, 
without the formality of an adieu ; and, after a few 
rounds of artillery, some of their skirmishers crept 



THE THIRD FAILURE. 327 

along towards the river bank. They found, however, 
that every precaution had been taken to guard against 
disaster ; and, not liking the thirty-two pound shells 
sent whizzing among them by the First Connecticut 
Heavy Artillery, they beat a precipitate retreat into 
the woods. 

The wounded were then removed several miles back 
from the river, the hospitals in the vicinity broken 
up, and the troops ordered to report during the day at 
their old quarters, where before night most of them 
arrived. 

Our loss during the five days had been as follows: — 

In Gen. Sumner's grand division 473 killed, 4,090 
wounded, 748 missing ; making a total of 5,311. 

In Gen. Hooker's grand division, 326 killed, 2,468 
wounded, 754 missing; amounting to 3,548. 

In Gen. Franklin's grand division, 339 killed, 2,547 
wounded, 576 missing; total 3,462. 

Whole number killed, 1,138 ; whole number wound- 
ed, 9,105 ; whole number missing, 2,078 ; making a 
grand total of 12,321. 

The rebel loss was not stated officially, but was sup- 
posed to be less than five thousand, killed, wounded, 
and missing. 

Thus resulted in failure the third attempt made by 
the Union forces to capture Richmond. It spread a 
feeling of gloom all over the country. The disloyal 
charged Union generals, the War Department, Presi- 
dent Lincoln, and the Administration throughout, 
with imbecility ; and many of the loyal felt that they 
had been served at best in but an indifferent and unsat- 
isfactory manner. Gen. Burnside came out with a frank 
and manly statement of every thing that had trans- 



328 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

pired at army headquarters, or in his intercourse with 
Gen. Halleck and President Lincoln, assuming all the 
responsibility that belonged to him, and perhaps a little 
more, expressing at the same time his great admiration 
of the gallantry, courage, and endurance shown by the 
troops throughout the undertaking, and his heartfelt 
sympathies for the wounded and bereaved. The rebels 
were demonstratively exultant over the result, and 
averred that the war was about over, and their inde- 
pendence nearly achieved. 

No doubt the rank and file of the Southern army, 
poorly fed, poorly clothed, and poorly paid, compelled 
to march hundreds of miles, and fight closed in mass 
so compactly that artillery made frightful havoc in 
their ranks, were longing to see the close of the 
war. Stories of prisoners and deserters agreed upon 
this point; making it evident, that if the Federal 
authorities could prolong it, and make them feel its 
burdens more and more, they must finally give way 
from the utter impossibility of bearing up under them. 
During an interval of the fighting at Fredericksburg, 
soldiers from the front line of the rebel forces were 
observed to creep out of their places towards the bodies 
of our dead, who had on their army overcoats when 
they went into the battle ; stand the stiffened corpses 
upon their feet until they could strip off these coveted 
garments ; and then let them fall again to the earth. 
They invariably preferred the warm and comfortable 
attire furnished Union soldiers to their own coarse and 
scanty uniform ; and improved every opportunity pre- 
sented to procure it. 

During the winter following the battle of Fredericks- 
burg, their pickets along tlie Rappahannock repeatedly 



CASUALTIES AT FREDERICKSBURG. 329 

endeavored to purchase Federal overcoats, offering to 
pay in greenbacks the regular quartermaster's price, or 
even more. Subsequent to the battle, parties met from 
both sides several times, bearing flags of truce, to 
effect an exchange of wounded general officers, or 
obtain the bodies of those who were dead ; and some 
rebel females were allowed to pass over into their lines, 
and loyal ladies were received into ours. 

After the evacuation of Fredericksburg on the 
morning of Tuesday, Dec. 16, the Massachusetts First 
Regiment met for the first time its new colonel, Capt. 
Napoleon B. McLaughlin, of the regular army. He had 
been detached from the sixth regular cavalry, and 
commissioned by Gov. John A. Andrew to occupy 
the place previously held by Gen. Robert Cowdin. 
He continued in command of the regiment until it was 
mustered out of the service in May, 1864, and then 
assumed command of the Fifty-seventh veterans, receiv- 
ing the commission of brevet brigadier-general of vol- 
unteers for gallantry in action during the siege of 
Petersburg ; and, at the conclusion of the war, the post 
of lieutenant-colonel of cavalry in his old regiment. 

The losses of the First Regiment during the battle 
of Fredericksburg were light, inasmuch as they were 
on the skirmish line throughout tlie fighting, and took 
no part in the charges made upon the rebel batteries. 
They were as follows : — 

Company G : Killed, Private John W. Brown. 

Company C : Wounded, Sergeant David L. Messer, 
contusion in the breast ; Corporal Frederic W. Trow- 
bridge, wound in the hand ; Corporal Eben 0. Avery, 
wound in the leg ; John Dorrans, wound in the hand ; 

28* 



330 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

William Mahlman, shot through the leg (subsequently 
died) ; Edward J. Ford, wound in the leg. 

Company D: Wounded, Sergeant Seth F. Clark, 
shot through the knee (subsequently died) ; Sergeant 
James M. Sprague, shot through the thigh ; Corporal 
Alfred Hocking, shot through the breast ; John H. 
Baldwin, contusion. 

Company E : Sergeant Frederick Pierce, wound in 
the knee ; John Potter, wound in the neck. 

Company F : Sergeant William J. Loheed, wound 
in the head ; Corporal Charles F. Brown, wound in 
the shoulder ; John Q. Burrill, wound in the ankle. 

Company G : Woodbury S. Harmon, wound in the 
shoulder ; James F. Carbrey, wound in the arm ; 
James Chadwick, wound in the hand ; James Norton, 
wound in the hip. 

Company H : Corporal Patrick J. Donovan, shot in 
the shoulder ; Nathaniel B. Emerson, shot in the leg ; 
Christopher C. Grover, severe wound in the thigh ; 
John York, shot in the hand ; George S. Sullivan, shot 
in the hand. 

Company I : George R. Kidder, wound in the arm ; 
Samson Woodhall, wound in the head ; William 
Ready, wound in the hand. 

Company K : Sergeant Adoniram J. Barteaux, shot 
in the shoulder ; Thomas T. Mahony, shot in the head ; 
Langdon Sheriff, shot in the arm ; Robert J. Westa- 
cott, shot in the leg. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH. 



" In Freedom's name our blades we draw — 
She arras us for the fight — 
For country, government, and law. 

For liberty and right. 
The Union must, — shall be preserved; 

Our flag still o'er us fly ! 
That cause our hearts and hands has nerved; 
And we will do, or die." — Geokge P. Morris. 

IN company with the rest of the division, the First 
Regiment returned to its old camping-ground, be- 
tween the Aquia-Creek Raih'oad and the Rappahan- 
nock River, Tuesday, Dec. 16. 

Tlie unbroken forest which the troops entered when 
they arrived from Fairfax Station had been considera- 
bly thinned by woodchoppers previous to the assault 
upon Fredericksburg, and the ground cleared of under- 
brush, so as to make it convenient to camp upon. 

The attention of the regimental commanders was 
not immediately turned to winter-quarters, because it 
seems to have been Gen. Burnside's determination, 
should the weather prove favorable, to attempt the 
passage of the Rappahannock again, above or below 
the position held by Gen. Lee, and fall upon his right 
or left flank. Nevertheless, such of the soldiers as 
were camped in the open field built up for themselves 
temporary habitations of stones and sods, strengthened 
by whatever logs and strips of board they could col- 



332 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

lect, making the whole of one end a fireplace ; and, by 
stretching their shelter-tents over the top, managed to 
secure a tolerable protection from the bleak winds and 
occasional snow-storms to which the region was sub- 
ject. 

In the course of a few days, the usual routine of camp 
life was resumed, comprising company and battalion 
drills, inspections, and dress-parades ; the latter always 
being held when the weather was favorable. Several 
changes were introduced by Col. McLaughlin, as being 
more in accordance with strict military usage ; one of 
which was the abandonment of the hollow-square forma- 
tion following evening dress-parade, — to w4iich the reg- 
iment had been accustomed, for greater ease and con- 
venience in reading and listening to orders, and the 
regular devotional service, — and the retention of the 
companies in line at the ^'parade rest," until the exer- 
cises terminated. He also awakened a salutary spirit 
of emulation among the men, by excusing from guard- 
duty for a month the six men of the regiment who, at 
any given inspection, had the cleanest guns, tlie bright- 
est brasses, the neatest accoutrements, and the best- 
looking uniforms, and who made the most creditable 
and soldier-like appearance on parade. 

He required his field and staff officers to accom- 
pany him through the companies while inspection was 
going on, and subjected every soldier to the most rigid 
scrutiny from top to toe. Not only were the careful 
rewarded, but the careless were punished. If a man 
had neglected to cut his hair or beard after being told 
to do so, or ventured to appear in line with unpolished 
gun-barrel, unscrubbed brasses, or unblacked boots, 
he received two or three days', or a week's, extra al- 



ARDUOUS PICKET-DUTY. 333 

lowance of guard-duty, to quicken his memory ani 
increase his diligence. 

About the same time, a new assignment of officers 
to companies was made, regulated, as far as possible, by 
seniority in the service ; and the companies were also 
located anew in the regimental line. 

Picket-duty was arduous and trying on account of 
the condition of the roads, and the distance of the 
picket-line from camp. Instead of selecting a com- 
pany from each regiment in the division, a whole regi- 
ment was sent out at once, leaving only men enough 
behind to do guard-duty while the others were gone. 
This method was much more popular among the men, as 
it kept regiments together, and did not compel the same 
regiment to send out a portion of its number every day. 
It also enabled the men to remain together in camp. 

The picket-line was a considerable distance above 
Falmouth, extending across a country alternately open 
and heavily wooded ; and the roads to it, after the wet 
weather set in, became almost impassable to the troops, 
and quite so to heavily-loaded teams ajiid artillery. 

Christmas came and went in camp without any par- 
ticular celebration. Owing to some misunderstanding 
between the War Department and the express com- 
panies, no boxes, parcels, or packages were brought to 
the troops from home ; so that, in observing the day, 
they were obliged to content themselves with what few 
things they could obtain of the regimental sutlers. 

It was evident on the 1st of January, 1863, that the 
First Regiment could not remain long upon its first- 
selected camping-ground, and keep warm. The woods 
disappeared by the acre every week. There were 
from a hundred to a hundred and fifty fires kept 



834 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

burning in every regiment all day ; some for the pur- 
pose of cooking, but most of them for comfort and of 
necessity. Several divisions had been compelled to 
move on this account ; and on Saturday, Jan. 3, the 
division of Gen. Sickles left its former camping-grounds, 
and proceeded a mile and a half to a range of hills on 
what was known as the Fitz-Hugh Estate, which were 
covered with a heavy growth of oak and pine timber, 
suitable for fire-wood and for the construction of log- 
huts. Here a regular camp was laid out in parallel 
company streets, up and down the hill, for the men ; 
while the officers' quarters occupied the ridge. The 
trees among which the tents were pitched were thinned 
out only enough to make room for their accommoda- 
tion, and the rest left standing all winter as a protec- 
tion against the winds. It took the men several weeks 
to get their quarters completed to their mhids, inas- 
much as it was very slow work, and had to be done at 
intervals, between drills, reviews, guard-mounting, and 
picket-duty. By the middle of January, they were all 
snugly housed (with the exception of a few who were 
sick while the house-building was going on), and were 
at liberty to burn as much wood as they chose to cut 
and bring home upon their shoulders. It was the 
quartermaster's aim to keep the camp so liberally sup- 
plied with this indispensable article, that the men 
might always find enough already cut close by their 
quarters ; but the condition of the roads, the severity 
of the weather, and the employment of the wagons in 
drawing subsistence and forage from the cars or the 
landing, sometimes prevented him from keeping the 
camp as well provided as he could have wished. 

Monday, Jan. 5, Gen. Burnside began a series of 



DISAFFECTION IN THE ARMY. 335 

reviews of the army, preparatory to a movement of some 
sort against the enemy. The troops were numerous, 
in excellent condition, appeared well, and marched 
well ; but there was no enthusiasm among them, and, 
apparently, no heart for enterprises of any description. 
In the first place, they did not believe in undertaking 
an active campaign during the winter season, on ac- 
count of the condition of the roads, the unsettled state 
of the weather, the necessity of camping out in the 
cold with no protection but a common sheltor-tent, 
and the aggravated sufferings they must endure if 
wounded during such weather ; as well as the greater 
probabilities of freezing to death before being found 
and attended to. In the next place, a feeling existed 
that the Army of the Potomac was moved, not by the 
general under whose command it was placed, but by a 
junto of military officials at \yashington, who had not 
always exhibited as much knowledge of the situation 
as they might have possessed had they been in the 
field ; and whose dictation or interference were serious 
drawbacks to the success of the army in whatever un- 
dertaking it might engage. 

In the last place, it was believed that Gen. Ihirn- 
side was placed in command of the army against his 
will ; that he found the position i'e})ugnant and irk- 
some to him ; that he would gladly be relieved, and 
return to the command of .the ninth corps, for which 
ho was admirably fitted, but that Government insisted 
upon his remaining where he was ; and he was com- 
pelled to obey, or throw up his commission. 

All these considerations weighed with the men, 
although they may not have been founded on any 
thing more substantial than their own imaginations ; 



336 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

and the result was a lack of spirit, enthusiasm, and 
unity throughout the army. Several times, rumors flew 
through the camps that one brigade had revolted and 
thrown down their arms, or another had become mu- 
tinous and disorderly ; but there never was any special 
and concerted outbreak, however much it may have 
been talked about in a desultory way. 

Soon after the 1st of January, when President Lin- 
coln issued his famous Proclamation of Emancipation, 
the writer had the good fortune to secure a num- 
ber of copies for circulation among the men. It was 
a paper for which he had long waited, whose appear- 
ance he hailed with delight, and whose influence in de- 
ciding the doom of the Rebellion he felt to be potent 
and irresistible. It was better than many victories 
gained by gunpowder and battalions ; being a declara- 
tion made for justice and righteousness. From the 
hour that that proclamation received the moral support 
of a majority of the people, he felt sure the fortunes 
of the rebels would begin to wane. 

It was not only circulated among members of the 
regiment, but pinned up conspicuously upon the out- 
side of the writer's tent, so that visitors might see it as 
they came into camp, and be reminded of the new era 
which had dawned not only upon the Union but upon 
mankind. The regiment took it much more kindly 
than they had taken considerable abolition preaching in 
former times, showing that the unanswerable logic of 
events had effected a change for the better. 
/' About this time, a regimental bakery was established, 
similar to the one formerly erected at Budd's Ferry. 
Instead of hard-bread, the commissary drew flour 
equal in value ; and again the soldiers enjoyed nice 



THE REGIMENTAL BAKERY. 337 

large loaves, that, for whiteness and relish, wonld rival 
the best productions of city bakeries. A large regi- 
mental fund was likewise accumulated, which supplied 
brushes, blacking, polishing-powder, and other articles 
not furnished by Government, greatly to the improve- 
ment of personal appearance throughout the command. 
Extra loaves were sold at a fixed price to men in other 
regiments 5 and it should be mentioned, to the credit 
of our own bakers, that, although there was anatlier 
bakery in full blast at brigade headquarters, the bread 
turned out at the regimental establishment bore off 
the palm throughout the division. 

Had our troops paid any attention to orders to prepare 
three or more days' rations, with sixty rounds of ammu- 
nition, and be ready to move at a moment's notice, while 
they were constructing their rude log-cabins and try- 
ing to make themselves comfortable, very few of them 
would have lived in any peace during the first part of 
the winter. Previous to the 16th of January, two 
such orders had been issued from army headquarters, 
the necessary reviews and inspections preliminary had 
been held, and every thing made ready for a move ; 
but, for some reason unexplained, the orders ' had 
been countermanded. On the night of the 16th, the 
pontoons were brought from Belle Plain to Falmouth, 
and after dark, as secretly as possible, taken up the 
river about six miles. 

On the 17th, an order was again transmitted to pre- 
pare the usual three-days' rations, and furnish the 
infantry with sixty cartridges apiece. The roads had 
not wholly dried, but were in such a condition that 
the engineers thought it safe to venture upon them. 
Gen. Burnside's forces had been largely increased by 

29 



338 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS EEGIMENT. 

recruits from the North, and by the return of conva- 
lescents and the shghtly wounded ; while Gen. Lee's 
had been somewhat reduced by the departure of vari- 
ous regiments drawn off to strengthen other places. 
Gens. Early, Hood, Walker, Ransom, McLaws, Ander- 
son, and the two Hills, were at this time in command 
of divisions in the rebel army, making eight, of only 
four or five brigades apiece, and these very much di- 
minished in number, and poorly furnished with mate- 
rial. An English officer who visited the rebel army 
at this period describes it as " an assemblage of tatter- 
demalions, rich mainly in rags, subsisting upon bacon, 
corn-meal, flour, and a little salt, without coffee, sugar, 
vegetables or fresh meat ; living compactly in log-huts 
or underground excavations, swarming with vermin ; 
lean, hungry, and shivering, but full of faith in their 
cause and of enthusiasm for their leaders ; ready to 
suffer, willing to wait, and reliable in battle." 

The Union army was all ready to move upon the 
18th ; but an order came postponing operations until 
further notice, which gave the rebels ample time to 
make such preparations as they chose for our recep- 
tion. Every thing appertaining to headquarter affairs 
seems to have been known by them almost as quickly 
as it was promulgated in our own lines. Their pickets 
would ask ours what we were going to do with those 
three-days' rations and sixty rounds of ammunition 
which liad been served out, and occasionally shout the 
countersign across the water before it had been passed 
round to our own officers. They likewise insolently 
urged us to come over and try Fredericksburg again, 
as they were almost out of clothing, greenbacks, 
and provisions. It was said that a citizen of Falmouth 



AGAIN ON THE MARCH. 339 

was arrested, in whose cellar was found a complete 
magnetic telegraph apparatus, connected with Fred- 
ericksburg by a wire running under the river, over 
which he was accustomed to send messages conveying 
important information which he had gathered within 
the Union lines, to the rebel leaders. 

It was Gen. Burnside's intention to move his forces 
up the left bank of the Rappahannock, cross at the 
several fords simultaneously, come down the right bank 
upon Gen. Lee's left wing, and secure the rear of the 
Fredericksburg position before he had recovered from 
his surprise ; but, long before the van of Gen. Burn- 
side's army appeared upon the bank, the rebels were 
busily engaged upon the opposite side, constructing 
rifle-pits and field-works for their batteries. 

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the order for an immediate 
start was issued, after waiting three days from its origi- 
nal promulgation. Camp was broken up in the after- 
noon, and, after several tedious delays, the line of 
march taken in the direction of Hartwood Church, 
due north of United-States Ford on the Rappahannock 
River, and ten miles above Falmouth. By some mis- 
understanding. Gen. Franklin's grand division had 
been directed to take the same road with Gen. Hook- 
er's ; and as this caused them to be mixed up in inex- 
tricable confusion, a halt was ordered by Gen. Sickles, 
about dark, to allow Franklin's troops to pass. They 
came on rapidly enough, regiment after regiment, 
brigade after brigade, and division after division ; but 
they were so numerous, that the halt was prolonged 
for hours, until it extended far into the night. A cold 
north-easterly wind had arisen, accompanied by a fine, 
penetrating rain, which led the men to build fires 



340 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

along the road in the deserted log-huts of former camp- 
ing-grounds. Round thch;e they hovered, stamping 
their feet, and moving about to keep warm. As it 
seemed that the forces of Gen. Franklin would not 
get by before midnight, the order was given for Gen. 
Sickles' command to return to camp, and make them- 
selves comfortable until morning. It was obeyed with 
the utmost alacrity ; and in less than an hour the men 
were all snugly ensconced in their old regimental quar- 
ters, while the storm, which had increased in violence, 
sighed through the branches overhead, and poured tor- 
rents of rain upon their frail habitations. 

A considerable number of Gen. Franklin's troops 
had kept closed up with the van of his advancing col- 
umn during the night ; but the great majority had 
fallen out of the ranks by the roadside, wherever there 
seemed to be a sheltered place, and indignantly de- 
clared that they would not be marched at such a time 
and in such a manner by their officers, if they were 
court-martialed for insubordination. When soldiers 
come to such a determination, it is next to impossible 
to move them ; consequently, the roads were all night 
lined with stragglers from the left grand division. 

At daybreak on the 21st, the reveille called the di- 
vision to their feet again, breakfast was eaten in camp, 
the line formed at eight o'clock, and, in the midst 
of the rain, the march was resumed towards Hartwood 
Church. There was not a private in the ranks but felt 
we were trying to do what was utterly impossible ; and 
subsequent experience demonstrated that the instincts 
of the common soldier were more correct than the the- 
ories of some of the general officers. 

The soil of the country was in such a state, that the 



IMPASSABLE CONDITION OF THE ROADS. 341 

ten hours of rain which preceded the commencement 
of the march had transformed seemingly serviceable 
roads into impassable ditches, and swollen the brooks, 
which crossed them frequently between the hills, into 
rapid and formidable streams. Along these roads, 
horses and mules struggled and floundered, drawing 
much lighter loads than usual, covered with mud 
and perspiration, sending up clouds of vapor from 
their heated and reeking bodies, and breathing so vio- 
lently whenever they stopped for rest, that the motion 
shook them from end to end like a convulsion. Some 
pieces of light artillery had double and even triple 
teams attached to them, tsyelve to eighteen animals 
being sometimes harnessed to a single gun, which even 
then they dragged through the adhesive mire at a 
snail's pace, requiring frequent assistance from the 
soldiers, who threw rails and branches from the trees 
across the worst places, and pried up the wheels when 
they sank so low as to be utterly immovable. 

At the crossings of streams, where bridges had not 
been rendered indispensably necessary by the depth of 
the water, horses and mules were killed in their efforts 
to get over, or broke their legs, and had to be put out 
of their misery. Every mile presented some such scene, 
and the general difficulty of the advance greatly dis- 
couraged the troops. The infantry avoided the roads 
as much as possible, and picked their way over the 
hills and through the fields. Although they could 
get along, their progress was accomplished with ex- 
treme difficulty, as they were perpetually slipping 
back, and occasionally getting tripped up, or lifting 
their feet entirely out of their boots, leaving them 
buried twelve or fifteen inches in the mucilaginous 

29* 



342 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS BEGIMENT. 

ooze. The scenes of perplexity and embarrassment 
exhibited along the line of march, partook so much 
more largely of the ludicrous than of the unendura- 
ble, hoTvever, that the soldiers reaped full as much 
pleasure as pain from their situation. 

Arrived at the bank of the Rappahannock, our pick- 
ets found that tlie rebels were fully aware of their 
forlorn and uncomfortable condition, and disposed 
to make light of it by certain signs which they 
hung from the trees, informing all observers that 
" Gen. Burnside was stuck in the mud." They aho 
volunteered to cross over and help us lay the pontoon 
bridges, and urged us to come across without delay, as 
they were greatly in want of provisions, clothing, and 
greenbacks. Meantime the pontoon-carriages and ar- 
tillery-wheels, even when at rest, were sinking lower 
and lower in tlie mire, as tlie ground softened, and had 
to be extricated and placed upon platforms constructed 
for the purpose. 

The regiment having reached as dry a spot as could 
be found near the appointed rendezvous, about noon 
went into bivouac for a few liours' rest, where it re- 
mained until two o'clock the next day, and was then 
ordered out to construct corduroy roads for the extri- 
cation of the wagons and batteries. It liad been ascer- 
tained by our scouts that the rebels held the right 
bank of the Rappahannock in force opposite our posi- 
tion, that they had not only thrown up lines of rifle- 
pits and earthworks for their artillery, but liad cut 
down trees all along tlie edge of the bank, making an 
impenetrable abatis covering the approach to every 
portion of tlieir defences. With firm footing for the 
men, and solid ground for tlie artillery, it was felt that 



INCREASED DISAFFECTION IN THE ARMY. 343 

this position might be stormed and carried, but, under 
the circumstances, that such an attempt would result 
only in disaster and defeat. The order was therefore 
issued to secure the withdrawal of the pontoons and 
batteries at once, and for the whole army to return to 
its former locality, and go into winter quarters. The 
return was accompanied by scenes even more amusing 
than any that transpired during the advance, as fre- 
quently, where the slough was particularly soft and 
deep, the men were compelled to proceed by single file, 
till some venturesome and impatient fellow would start 
out to find a better and shorter track, only to sink up 
to and even above his knees in mud, and become 
the butt of universal ridicule until he waded back 
into line again. Another, thinking he could leap a 
stream across which his comrades were plodding on 
some fallen tree or single plank, would just fail of 
reaching the 'opposite side, and drop souse into the 
water ; scrambling out, with musket, knapsack, haver- 
sack, and clothes all dripping, greeted with roars of 
laughter for his exploit, and sundry jibes far fi'om com- 
plimentary or soothing. 

Although this undertaking led to no bloodshed, a 
number of troops were disabled by it, a considerable 
amount of property was wasted, and it increased the 
spirit of discontent and disaffection already preva- 
lent tlu'oughout the army to such a degree that the 
removal of Gen. Burnside became an unavoidable 
necessity. The office, which was conferred upon him 
unsolicited and greatly to his surprise, and which he 
accepted with the utmost reluctance, he requested the 
President to relievo him of; and, much tO his satisfac- 
tion, it was immediately done, and the command of the 



344 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Army of the Potomac conferred upon Gen. Joseph 
Hooker. At the same time, by order of the Secretary 
of War, Gens. Sumner and Franklin were relieved of 
their commands, and directed to report to the adjutant- 
general at Washington. Matters had been very squally 
at army headquarters for several weeks, and at one 
time a special order was promulgated, dismissing nine 
general and staff officers from the Army of the Poto- 
mac, for the use of language having a tendency to de- 
moralize the soldiers and injiu-e the service. President 
Lincoln was unwilling to approve of such a wholesale 
decapitation, and, after consulting with his advisers, 
finally accepted the resignation of Gen. Burnside, re- 
lieved Gens. Svimner and Franklin, and made Gen. 
Hooker the principal commander. 

Gen. Hooker was born in 1816, in Massachusetts, 
went to West Point in 1833, distinguished himself 
during the war with Mexico, and entered the service 
again immediately after the fall of Sumter. His ap- 
pointment was popular among the soldiers, who had 
given him the sobriquet of " Fighting Joe Hooker," 
because in battle he was always to be found at the post 
of danger. This title originated after one of the en- 
gagements in which he participated, from its insertion 
by a reporter at the head of one of his despatches. It 
was never acceptable to the general, as it seemed to indi- 
cate a man who was rash, pugnacious, vindictive, and 
devoid of the caution and foresight indispensable to 
good generalship. 

The grand-division arrangement of the army was at 
once abolished by Gen. Hooker, and the old corps or- 
ganization restored in its place. Gens. Reynolds, 
Couch, Sickles, Meade, Sedgwick, Siegel, and Slocum, 



REFORMS INAUGURATED BY GEN. HOOKER. 345 

were placed in command of the first, second, third, 
fifth, sixth, eleventh, and twelfth corps respectively, 
the cavalry consolidated into one corps under Gen. 
Stoneman, and each corps was supplied with its own 
independent artillery, no batteries being transferred 
from one corps to another, except by authority of the 
chief of artillery. The quartermaster's and commis- 
sary departments of the army received special atten- 
tion from Gen. Hooker, and such life was infused into 
these branches of the service, through his persistent 
I endeavors, that not a private in the army but was 
better clothed, fed, and provided for, as the result. 
He likewise imparted to the cavalry such spirit, unity, 
and efficiency, as to make it one of the most formida- 
ble arms of the service. 

The winter months which followed the mud march 
were unhealthy, and a considerable number of soldiers 
sickened and died in the regimental, division, and 
corps hospitals attached to the army. 

Tuesday night, Feb. 3, Corporal John F. Getchell of 
Company A, First Regiment, passed away, and was 
buried the next mopning close by the hospital tent. He 
was an excellent soldier, and possessed the confidence 
of his officers, and the affi3ction of his comrades. He 
was not only brave in battle, but had the moral cour- 
age to refuse all indulgence in intoxicating liquor, and 
to abstain from gambling and profanity. At the same 
time he was unobtrusive and obliging, ready at all 
times to assist a brother-soldier if it was within the 
scope of his ability, and inflexibly firm in his own 
determination to be governed by honor and principle. 

Before daybreak on the morning of Thursday, Feb. 
5, the members of the regiment were roused from their 



346 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

slumbers by orders to pack up instantly, and proceed 
in light marching order towards Hartwood Church. 
It was snowing hard at the time, the ground was 
frozen stiff, and the men were not a little concerned 
to know what this sudden call in mid-winter might 
portend. Tliey took a westerly direction, and con- 
tinued marching all day, making about twelve miles 
before dark. The storm not only continued, but in- 
creased, until the ground was covered with snow to the 
depth of several inches. The weather then moderated, 
and it began to rain. In the midst of the rain the 
troops bivouacked in the woods. The next morning 
they proceeded four miles farther, and came to a halt 
close by one of the fords of the Rappahannock. They 
learned there that a strong cavalry force had gone 
farther up, to destroy a bridge at Rappaliannock Sta- 
tion, and they were located at the ford to prevent any 
attempt by the enemy to cut off their retreat. 

The expedition was completely successful. The 
rebels had succeeded in constructing the bridge after 
considerable trouble, and were just crossing a body of 
cavalry, when a volley from the Union carbines emp- 
tied several of their saddles, and arrested their progress, 
and another compelled them to beat a precipitate re- 
treat. After falling back, they re-formed, bringing 
down a column of infantry for support, and re-attempted 
to come across, but a second time received such a 
destructive fire as to render it impossible, when again 
they retired. Tlie Union cavalry then rode upon the 
bridge, at which the rebels began to destroy the other 
end. Seeing they could not get over, our cavalry 
likewise aided in the work of its demolition, and it was 
speedily on fire from end to end. 



SURGEON RICHARD II SALTER. 347 

No demonstration was attempted by the enemy at 
either of the fords, and, after tlie accomplishment of 
their work, the cavalry withdrew without molestation. 
The infantry and light batteries followed them at sun- 
rise, on the 7th, reaching their former camps at three 
o'clock in the afternoon. 

About the first of the month, the regiment was 
called upon to part with Surgeon Richard H. Salter, 
who had retained his post from its departure for the 
seat of war until this time. Surgeon Salter, by his 
urbane and gentlemanly manners, his kind treatment 
of the men, his correct deportment, and his fair and 
honorable dealing, had won the good opinion of the 
soldiers, and was parted from with regret. His place was 
filled, after considerable delay, by Surgeon Edward A. 
Winston, who had been assistant surgeon of the Six- 
teenth Massachusetts Regiment since its formation, and 
was promoted upon the recommendation of the medical 
directors of the third corps and the Army of the 
Potomac. Surgeon Whiston remained in this position 
through all the subsequent campaigns of the First 
Regiment, and was finally mustered out with the other 
officers, in May, 1864. 

During this month, the First Regiment received an 
honor from Gen. Hooker which was shared by only two 
other Massachusetts regiments in the Army of the Poto- 
mac. Determined to secure, if possible, a perfect con- 
dition of arms, quarters, accoutrements, and uniforms 
among his soldiers, he ordered a careful and thorough 
inspection of every regiment by Lieut.-Col. Parks, a 
member of his staff, who should take notes, and report 
the result of his examinations at headquarters ; prom- 
ising to increase the number of furloughed officers and 



348 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

men in deserving regiments, and threatening to take 
away the furlough privilege from such regiments as 
proved worthy of censure on account of neglect. The 
inspection was accordingly held, and proved very rigid 
in every particular. Guns, clothing, tents, cook-houses, 
stables, company-streets, hospitals, every thing entered 
into the estimate. When the result was announced, of 
over one hundred and fifty regiments in the army, it was 
found that only eleven were deemed worthy of special 
commendation, among which eleven, three were from 
Massachusetts, viz., the First, Second, and Twentieth. 

The weather during January and February was a 
succession of snow and rain storms, interspersed with 
mild and balmy days, which made locomotion next to 
impossible, whether on foot, on horseback, or in wagons. 
Corduroy roads were accordingly constructed from 
corps to corps, extending from the sixth corps, on the 
the extreme left, to the eleventh, on the extreme right ; 
and branching from them to the various stations on 
the Aquia-Creek Railroad, or to the landing on the 
Potomac River. These roads required an enormous 
amount of fatigue-duty, and consumed an immense 
quantity of timber. Forest trees were cut down for 
miles in every direction, and a vast stretch of wood- 
land left with nothing but blackened stumps. Because 
an effort was made to relieve the First of an unfair 
amount of this exhausting labor, the regiment was 
compelled to go oftcner and work harder than ever. 
That was the way in which some persons exercised the 
little brief authority with which they were intrusted, 
and which they had sworn to employ without preju- 
dice to the service. 

Washington's birthday, Feb. 22, was celebrated in 



JtEBEL CAVALRY DEFEATED. 349 

camp by a national salute from all the batteries, unac- 
companied by any military display, as the day was raw 
and cold, and the snow a foot deep. It was very 
significant that tlie Union guns should honor the name 
and memory of Washington, so near the homestead of 
his father, while the rebel artillery which commanded 
that homestead did not fire a single round. 

Wednesday, Feb. 25, Stuart's cavalry made a dash 
across the Rappahannock, and attempted to reach 
Potomac Creek, for the purpose of destroying the high 
railroad bridge erected there, capturing supplies left 
at the station for the hospital, and doing such other 
mischief as might be possible. They found our cav- 
alry on the alert, however, and a sanguinary conflict 
ensued, which resulted in the rebels being defeated 
and driven back with considerable loss in killed and 
wounded, and fifty men taken prisoners. Our loss was 
only forty killed and wounded. As this bridge was in- 
valuable to Gen. Hooker, to secure it against further 
assaults he ordered the erection of strong redoubts on 
the contiguous hills, in which heavy guns were placed, 
sweeping the approaches at all points of the compass. 

On the 12th of March, a raid was made by the enemy 
upon Fairfax Court House ; and with such celerity and 
secrecy did they conduct their operations, tliat they 
penetrated the town, took Brig.-Gen. Stoughton out of 
his bed at midnight, surprised a detachment of his 
brigade, captured men and horses, secured all the booty 
the town contained, and decamped before the Union 
guards fully realized the mischance which had befallen 
them. 

On the 17th of March, a desperate struggle took 
place between our cavalry under Gen. Averill, and a 

30 



350 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

similar force of the enemy, near Kelly's Ford, on the 
Rappahannock, during which the Union troopers, hav- 
ing practised a long time at the sabre exercise, and 
sharpened their weapons for this special occasion, 
charged upon the rebels at full gallop, and cut down 
nearly every man in their front line. The wounds 
were so ghastly, and the blood flowed in such torrents, 
that the enemy turned and fled in disorder to their 
intrenchments. The conflict raged from seven in the 
morning until four in the afternoon. 

Our loss was less than fifty, while that of the enemy 
was much greater, including eighty prisoners. Among 
the mortally wounded was Adjutant Nathaniel Bow- 
ditch, only son of Dr. Bowditch, of Boston, a young 
man of great promise and rare personal endowments. 

During the months of March and April, the occu- 
pants of Fredericksburg displayed considerable activity 
in repairing the ruin made by the bombardment of 
the previous December. Streets were cleared of their 
litter, shot-holes plugged, tottering chimneys pulled 
down, walls mended, breaches filled up, and leaky roofs 
made water-tight. Many of the inhabitants also re- 
turned, and resumed their former mode of life as much 
as possible. 

On the night of April 4, in tlie midst of a driving 
snow-storm, another member of the regiment died in 
camp, namely, Corporal James M. Hulme, of Company 
F. He was a quiet and reserved man, of thoughtful 
spirit and earn esf nature, faithful in the discharge 
of his duties, so much so as to hasten his death by ex- 
posure to the weather during the completion of the 
corduroy roads. 

Assistant Surgeon Monroe having been commis- 



PROMOTIONS. 351 

sioned surgeon of the Fifteen tli Massachusetts Regi- 
ment, stationed at Fahnouth in December of 1862, 
Dr. Neil K. Gunn, of Boston, was sent on from Massa- 
chusetts to be second assistant surgeon of the First 
Regiment, and arrived in camp on the 21st of March. 
At the same time Lieut. John McDonough was com- 
missioned captain, Second Lieut. John S. Clark was 
made first lieutenant. Commissary Sergeant Harrison 
Hinckley was made second lieutenant, Lieut. Forrester 
A. Pelby was made captain, Second Lieut. John S. 
Willey was made first lieutenant, Sergeant Rufus M. 
Megquire was made second lieutenant, Second Lieut. 
George Myrick was made first lieutenant, and Ser- 
geant Edward G. Tutien was made second lieutenant. 
A -large number of promotions took place likewise 
among the non-commissioned officers and privates, by 
which many worthy men and excellent soldiers were 
advanced one grade. 




CHAPTER XIV. 

BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE. 

" The midnight brought the signal sound of strife; 
The morn, the marshalling in arms; the day, 
Battle's magnificently stern array ! 

■ The thunder-cloud closed o'er it, which, when rent, 
The earth is covered thick with other clay, 
Which her own clay shall cover; heaped and pent. 
Eider and horse — friend, foe — in one red burial blent." 

Byron. 

GREAT reviews were held in the Army of the 
Potomac in April, preliminary to an attack upon 
Gen. Lee ; at one of which, on the 9th of April, Presi- 
dent Lincoln and wife, Secretary Seward, several gen- 
tlemen and ladies from Washington, and all the general 
officers of the army were present. Great preparations 
were made for it several days previously, by filling 
ditches, removing stumps, draining quagmires, and 
cutting down ridges liable to impede the movements of 
the soldiers. The ground was measured and carefully 
staked out, so that there might be as little friction as 
possible, and nearly the whole of the large plain in the 
rear of Falmouth appropriated for the occasion. An 
immense number of infantry and artillery were present, 
the cavalry having been reviewed previously, who pre- 
sented a magnificent spectacle as they moved with 
quick step by the President and Gen. Hooker, their 
banners unfurled, and tlieir weapons glittering in the 




CAPTURE OF FREDERTCKSBMRC. HEIGHTS, DI'RTNc; THE BATTLE 



CAVALRY RECOKNOISSANCE. 353 

sun ; and it seemed at the time that they must be equal 
to any thing required of them. 

As soon as possible after the reviews were concluded, 
the advance upon the enemy began. On the 13th of 
April, the cavalry corps of Gen. Stoneman proceeded 
to Warrenton, Bealton, Rappahannock Bridge, and 
Liberty, to reconnoitre the country, and ascertain if 
possible the position and strength of the enemy's forces. 
Meeting with no opposition except from small scouting 
parties of partisan rangers, they proceeded to the fords 
of the Rapidan River, and took possession of them. 
It was Gen. Hooker's intention to follow with the main 
body of his army as soon as possible, crossing below 
the cavalry, and depending upon their vigilance and 
efficiency to keep the vicinity of the fords clear of rebel 
sharp-shooters and light batteries. 

Very stormy weather ensued, however, which was 
so violent and lasted so long as to prevent any move- 
ment until the 27th of April. 

The rebels held a line in the rear of Fredericksburg, 
extending from Port Royal, on the Rappahannock, 
below, to a point five or six miles from the city, above. 
They were poorly supplied with provisions and cloth- 
ing, and numbered only seventy thousand men. Gen. 
Hooker's forces were divided into seven corps of in- 
fantry, one of cavalry, and a reserve of artillery, 
all well clothed and well supplied, numbering one 
hundred and twenty thousand men. His plan was to 
mass three of his corps upon the plains below Fred- 
ericksburg, make a feint of attack, so as to draw the 
enemy's attention in that direction, and then move rap- 
idly to all the fords crossing the Rappahannock above, 
gain the other side, and force the rebels to give him 

30* 



354 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

battle in the rear of their iutrenchments, or fall back 
upon Richmond. 

On Monday morning, April 27, the fifth, eleventh, 
and twelfth corps broke camp, and took the roads 
leading in the direction of Kelly's Ford. They ar- 
rived Tuesday forenoon, crossed the river without 
difficulty, in course of the next two days, marched 
over the interval between the Rappahannock and the 
Rapidan, gained the other side, and proceeded rapidly 
down the river road towards Chancellorsville, at the 
junction of the Orange Court House road with the 
road to Culpepper, about five miles from United-States 
Ford. Here the three corps were massed, on the night 
of April 30, havng encountered only the pickets of the 
enemy, who fled at their approach. 

The second corps, under Gen. Couch, took position 
at Banks' Ford, five miles above Fredericksburg, on 
AVednesday, while the first, third, and sixth proceeded 
down the river to a little above Port Royal. The First 
Regiment received the order to move on Monday, 
April 27. Each man was to have three days' cooked 
rations in his haversack, five days' small supplies — 
such as sugar, coffee, salt, and hard-bread — in his 
knapsack, and sixty rounds of ammunition in his car- 
tridge-box and pockets. The men were greatly trou- 
bled at being loaded down so heavily ; and large 
numbers threw away the bulk of their rations, during 
the next three days, finding it- utterly impossible to 
keep up with their comrades, and carry such a heavy 
weight upon their persons. Tuesday afternoon, April 
28, the whole division left camp and took the road 
leading down the river to the point where Gen. 
Franklin crossed during the preceding December. 



REBEL INTRENCHMENTS CAPTURED. 355 

It was six o'clock before the regiment started ; and, 
owing to the darkness of the night and the crowded 
condition of tlie roads, progress was so slow that it 
took four hours to proceed three miles. 

Early the next morning another start was made, to 
a position where the division could act as a support to 
a portion of the sixth corps, in crossing the river. 

Before daybreak the pontoon boats, to the number 
of twenty-three, were in the water, ready to receive 
their occupants. A part of Gen. Russell's brigade was 
detailed for this service, composed mainly of New-York 
and Pennsylvania troops. Precisely at half-past four, 
A.M., every boat left the bank, and made for the oppo- 
site side. A thick mist hung over the river, which 
obscured objects from view at a few yards' distance, 
and favored the design of the intrepid voyagers. As 
rapidly as they could force the clumsy vessels through 
the water, they approached the rebel side, and were 
soon lost to view. In a few minutes more a volley 
was heard from the enemy's rifle-pits, showing that 
Gen. Russell's men had effected a landing and gained 
the bank. The boats, coming back empty, were im- 
mediately filled again with reenforcements, upon 
whose arrival a line was formed, bayonets fixed, and 
a charge ordered upon the rebel intrenchments. They 
were captured, after a feeble resistance, and one officer 
taken prisoner. At the same time, from every church 
steeple in Fredericksburg the bells began an angry 
clamor, for the purpose of alarming the inhabitants, 
and informing the rebels quartered in the vicinity 
that the Union troops had effected the passage of the 
Rappahannock, and again threatened their works in 
front. Both sides of the river being now in our pos- 



356 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

session, the pontoons were expeditiously laid, and our 
troops began to cross over. 

Simultaneously with the passage of Banks' Ford 
by the second corps. Gen. Stoneman started with his 
cavalry to gain the rear of Gen. Lee's army, destroy 
his communications with Richmond, burn the bridges 
on his lines of retreat, and demolish such munitions of 
war as might fall into his hands. His force was sub- 
divided into three columns, under Gens. Buford, 
Averill, and himself, who performed their work expe- 
ditiously and thoroughly, breaking up the James-River 
canal, setting fire to three large trains of provisions in 
the rear of Gen. Lee's position, blowing up culverts, 
burning commissary's supplies, destroying bridges, 
mills, vessels, and depots, driving the rebel pickets 
before them, capturing and paroling over three hun- 
dred men, and bringing in large numbers of fresh 
horses, with a loss of only one lieutenant and thirty 
men. 

The First remained in the woods below Falmouth, in 
column of regiments with the rest of the brigade, all 
day on the 29th. Towards evening it became cloudy, 
and the rain fell all night. The next day, at noon, 
marching was resumed through the valleys and by- 
ways, so as to be concealed from the enemy, and con- 
tinued until after dark. The command then went into 
bivouac, not far from United-States Ford, and remained 
until nearly twelve o'clock the next day. The rest of 
the division preceded them at seven o'clock, leaving 
them as rear guard to a long train of wagons, loaded 
with ammunition and supplies. These frequently got 
mired on the way to United-States Ford, and required 
constant assistance to get along. 



GHA NCELL ORS VILLE. 357 

The ford was crossed at one o'clock, and after a 
short halt in an abandoned rebel camp, the regiment 
joined the brigade within a short distance of the Chan- 
cellorsville House, then occupied by Gen. Hooker as 
his headquarters. 

It was customary among the first families of Vir- 
ginia, owning large tracts of arable land, to build spa- 
cious homesteads on some eligible site near the centre 
of their domains, surrounding them with the indispen- 
sable negro huts, which invariably cluster together in 
vicinity of " the great house." In course of time a 
store, a blacksmith's shop, and a few other dwellings 
would be added to the original structure, making a 
settlement of fifty or a hundred persons. Such was 
Chancellorsville. The Chancellors had constructed a 
commodious habitation at the junction of several roads 
crossing their estate, and named it after themselves. 
Negro cabins and a few other houses had been erected 
in the neighborhood, containing less than fifty inhabi- 
tants ; and this was the famous locality about which 
raged one of the most furious and sanguinary battles 
of the war. 

At noon, Friday, May 1, portions of the fifth and 
twelfth corps were advanced beyond Chancellorsville, 
in the direction of Fredericksburg. Before two o'clock 
they came upon the enemy posted across the road, and 
occupying a strong line of intrenchments stretching 
into the woods a long distance on both sides. The 
rebels opened a heavy fire upon the advancing column, 
which continued nearly an hour, running from left 
to right along the whole line. By order of Gen. Hook- 
er the Union troops then fell back to their original 
position. The enemy soon after followed, engaging 



358 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Gen. Sykes's skirmishers in the woods, and, upon their 
falling back in accordance with orders, emerging upon 
the open plain, yelling, leaping, and shouting like 
savages. They were received with a point-blank 
discharge of live thousand muskets, which at once 
arrested their progress and threw them into momen- 
tary confusion. But those in the rear, who had not 
felt the Union lead, were not to be kept back by the 
broken advance ; so onward they pressed, unappalled 
and resolute, until a second volley was sent whizzing 
into their midst, before which they quailed and came 
to a halt. Their numbers had been so thinned and 
weakened that they began to be dismayed. They were 
just upon the point of falling back, when they were re- 
enforced ; and, under the lead of their officers, who 
raved and stormed and shouted and exposed them- 
selves, in utter disregard of life and limb, they again 
came forward. Their advance exposed them to the 
fire of our artillery, three batteries of which had been 
posted upon a hill overlooking most of the fi.eld they 
occupied. Aiming above the heads of the Union sol- 
diers, our gunners planted shell and spherical case 
directly in the midst of the enemy, opening huge gaps 
wherever the missiles exploded, and tearing their lines 
apart in various places with terrific violence. For nearly 
half an hour both sides stood facing each other, load- 
ing and firing at will, equally determined not to yield ; 
the rebels using no artillery, but exposed to a fearful- 
ly destructive fire from the Federal batteries. It then 
became apparent that they would not remain in line, 
in spite of every exertion their officers might make ; 
and, the volleys from the Union front becoming more 
rapid and deadly, they retreated hastily back into the 



BIVOUAC ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. 359 

woods, followed by the shouts of the victors, who were 
less than a tenth portion of the army Gen. Hooker had 
under his command. 

Just as they were retiring, the Massachusetts First 
was double-quicked up to the left, on the line of the 
Banks'-Ford Road, in light marching order. Knap- 
sacks had been unslung at the rear, in expectation of 
an immediate engagement ; but, just as the right com- 
pany reached the battle-field, the order was given, " By 
division into line — march ! " followed by, " Close 
column by division on first division ! " to which suc- 
ceeded, " Prepare to stack arms ! " and, " Stack — 
arms ! — Rest ! " The companies were then sent back, 
one at a time, for their knapsacks; and the men pre- 
pared to bivouac, for the night, behind their stacks. 
They remained undisturbed till the next afternoon. 

A movement had been observed in the woods by our 
pickets, which indicated that the rebels were falling 
back on Gordonsville, or intended to attack the Union 
right. To ascertain their intentions a reconnoissance 
was ordered, under Gen. Sickles, which developed the 
fact that the whole of Stonewall Jackson's division 
was massing upon the right of our army for an assault. 
Before Jackson could get his troops together, however. 
Gen. Birney charged them, cutting his column in two 
while it was still moving along the road. Pursuing his 
advantage, a flank movement, under Gen. Berry, was 
made upon the rebel right, which met with complete 
success. The rebel skirmishers were forced back two 
miles behind the shelter of their intrenchments, and 
fifty prisoners captured belonging to the Twenty-third 
Georgia. 

It was now supposed that Jackson would retire. 



360 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

A division of Gen. Slocum's corps was accordingly ad- 
vanced at four o'clock, which had a sharp conflict with 
some of his regiments, but was handled so roughly 
that it fell back in disorder. An aide from Slocum 
dashed up to Gen. Hooker to ask for reenforcements. 
The answer was that he must hold his own, but should 
be supported on the right by Gen. Howard, and along 
the centre by artillery. Geary's division was im- 
mediately manoeuvred so as to gain the right of the 
plank road, and the batteries swept back the columns 
of the enemy on the left, thus preserving the centre 
intact. 

At the same time Gen. Howard 6rdered forward his 
divisions to form a line upon Gen. Birney's flank. 
One brigade succeeded, and reported accordingly. The 
rest of the corps met the rebels in line of battle on the 
way, and both sides opened a spirited fire of musketry. 
The German regiments fought gallantly for a while ; 
but, losing some of their ofiicers, who had been wound- 
ed or killed, they shortly began to waver, and, upon 
receiving a charge from the enemy, who advanced with 
shouts of defiance and yells of derision, they fell back. 
Gen. Howard at once perceived the danger, and boldly 
threw himself into the breach. But, one man cannot 
be at all places on a line of battle at once. His pres- 
ence everywhere had an inspiriting influence, and tem- 
porarily checked the rout. Such a movement once be- 
gun is of all things on earth the hardest to arrest. 

The shattered columns streamed back to the rear 
like an irresistible torrent. One might as well have at- 
tempted to stem a tornado. The fugitives were panic- 
stricken and beside themselves ; would run away, must 
run away, and did run away, as fast as possible. The 



PANIC OF THE GERMAN REGIMENTS. 361 

rebels were close upon their heels, keeping up a tre- 
mendous fire of musketry ; screaming and hooting in 
an unearthly manner, and crowding along in a dense 
mass, as if determined to sweep every thing before 
them. Upon an open area, containing less than one 
hundred acres, were gathered batteries, battery-wagons, 
ambulances, caissons, and cavalry teams, covering the 
ground in one dense throng. In among these plunged 
riderless and frightened cavalry horses, stampeding the 
animals, and infecting some of the men with their own 
terror ; jumbling and tumbling things together in in- 
discriminate and lamentable confusion, and making 
such a perfect bedlam that orders were heeded no 
more than the wind. 

'Gen. Sickles, who was on the spot with two divisions 
of his corps, immediately sent for the other, and, form- 
ing his men across the line of retreat pursued by the 
panic-stricken Germans, told them they must retrieve 
the day. At the same time he ordered Gen. Pleasanton 
to extricate such of the batteries as he could use from 
the small farm on the hill-top, open them upon the ene- 
my, and support the cannoneers with his mounted men. 

He had barely time to make his dispositions of in- 
fantry and artillery, when the rebels came on. They 
received a series of rapid and destructive volleys, ac- 
companied with incessant discharges from the artillery, 
which at once checked their advance, drowned their 
shrill whooping and the roll of their musketry, and 
laid hundreds of them bleeding on the ground. 

Those who were behind, however, still pressed for- 
ward, raising again, at intervals between the roar of 
battle, their boyish, piping cries, and pressing forward 
even within pistol-shot of our lines. They met there, 

31 



362 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

however, the veterans of the war ; men who had fought 
with them at Centreville, Williamsburg, Glendale, and 
Chantillj, and men who were not to be intimidated 
by their shouts, their bullets, or their charges. They 
formed in close ranks along the front, and came on 
with the terrific volleys for which Jackson's men were 
always famous, receiving our infantry fire without break- 
ing, and closing up the dreadful gaps made by our 
canister in their crowded battalions ; obstinately they 
strove to continue their triumphant progress, no mat- 
ter what the hazard or the cost. But they found it 
impossible to advance furtlier, and every moment in- 
creased the number and efficiency of our batteries, 
which made frightful havoc in their close ranks. Dark- 
ness had also approached, and the woods being full of 
smoke, made them fire wildly ; and, as there was dan- 
ger that they might now be attacked on both flanks, 
they finally retired, having accomplished their object 
only in part : one of our lines of battle was broken, 
and our advance cliecked. 

As it would not do to have our front continue dis- 
connected until morning, a portion of Gen. Birney's 
division made a night attack, with infantry and artil- 
lery, upon the enemy before them, and forced them 
back half a mile. This restored communication in all 
directions, but compelled Gen. Hooker to contract his 
front, and to act upon the defensive. The rest of the 
night was spent in the construction of breast-works in 
the woods, and rifle-pits and infantry-covers along the 
roads and fields, which, before the next morning, pre- 
sented a formidable appearance all round the position. 

After Stonewall Jackson had broken through the 
eleventh corps, and driven them back beyond the 



DEATH OF STONEWALL JACKSON. 363 

plauk road, he and liis officers supposed tliat they held 
it undisputed. Soon after dark, accordingly, a team- , 
ster was sent with a couple of mules to get a caisson 
which had broken down by the roadside. As he ap- 
proached the works held by the First Regiment, he was 
halted, and ordered to the rear. xV couple of officers, 
also, or scouts, were captured in a similar manner, and 
sent back. The enemy were mistaken in supposing 
tliat they held this road, for it was still in our liands. 
Acting on the supposition that tliey did hold it, how- 
ever, Stonewall Jackson, with several members of his 
staff, rode along about nine o'clock, in the bright 
moonlight, to reconnoitre tlie locality. The soldiers 
of the First Regiment saw the group of horsemen ap- 
proaching, — not knowing that Stonewall Jackson was 
one of them, of course, — and greeted them witli a vol- 
ley as soon as they came within range. One of the 
horsemen was Stonewall Jackson himself, and he being 
severely wounded, the whole group turjied and fled. 
If, as the rebels claimed, he had been fired upon by 
one of his own regiments, why did his staff turn and 
flee? 

He was struck by three balls, wounding both arms ; 
two of his staff were wounded, and two orderlies killed. 
As he was being carried to the rear, one of his stretcher- 
bearers was shot down, giving the wounded general a 
severe fall and contusion, injuring his side, and com- 
plicating the fracture of his arm, so that he sank under 
his injnries, and died in less than a week. Jeff. Davis 
having declared that the death of Stonewall Jackson 
was a greater loss to the Southern cause than would 
be a whole division of the rank and file, the credit of 
inflicting such a serious blow should be allowed to 



364 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

those to whom it is due ; and, had the First Regiment 
accomplished no more in their three-years' service 
than the single achievement here referred to, they 
would not have enlisted, marched, and fought in vain. 

During the night of Saturday, May 2, the rebels 
made frequent attacks upon our lines, apparently try- 
ing to find a weak spot where they could break 
through ; but the skirmishers were constantly on the 
alert, and drove them back on every occasion, with 
loss. 

Soon after daylight on the 3d, which was Sunday, 
the rebels came on in overwhelmmg numbers against 
the position held by Gens. Sickles and Slocum, bent ap- 
parently upon its capture, be the cost what it might. 
The conflict that ensued was terrible. More than forty 
thousand combatants were engaged at once ; the rebels 
approaching nearer and nearer to the Union works, in 
utter disregard of the fire which hurled whole battal- 
ions to the earth, until it became like advancing against a 
solid wall of lead and iron to move another step ; then 
they stood in the road and fields, or took to the trees, 
and delivered their volleys by brigades and divisions all 
at once. Without the slightest intermission or sus- 
pension of sound, as though thousands of muskets 
and rifles were discharged simultaneously, the roll of 
small-arms echoed through the forest peal upon peal, 
interspersed with deafening rounds from the batteries, 
whose heavy guns were fired with marvellous rapidity, 
and whose thundering detonations, mingled with the 
crash of solid shot among the trees, the bursting of 
shells, the spiteful patter of canister-balls against men, 
horses, trees, branches, or any thing else that chanced 
to be hit, rose in awful distinctness and volume far 



THE FEDERAL LINE FORCED BACK. 365 

above all the angry clamor of battle, and seemed to 
shake the solid earth with their overwhelming concus- 
sions. 

It was amazing to observe how little the enemy 
seemed to heed the slaughter caused among them, and 
how irresistibly and furiously determhied they appeared 
to force back our lines. They absolutely tumbled over 
each other's bodies in their eagerness to get ahead; 
fired kneeling and lying down ; and even climbed trees, 
so as to pick off Union officers in the rear. Notwith- 
standing all their efforts, they were kept at bay over 
four hours, and would have been all day, but, unfor- 
tunately, the Union ammunition gave out. The fire of 
infantry and artillery gradually slackened, and finally 
almost ceased. The rebels, in the beghining, could 
not comprehend it. They saw our men fix bayonets, 
and doubtless supposed, at first, that they were going 
to charge upon them. But in a few moments they 
were undeceived ; for the whole of the front centre be- 
gan to fall back upon the second line of battle. They 
quickly perceived how matters stood, and hastened to 
improve the advantage. 

Holding the same line of works with the First Regi- 
ment was a body of men from Maryland. As the ene- 
my advanced with bolder front than usual, these fell 
back and took refuge near the second line of battle, in 
the rear. Their position was immediately occupied 
by the rebels, who poured an enfilading fire down the 
division front, rendering the breastwork utterly unten- 
able, and throwing another regiment into confusion 
on the right, compelling the First to withdraw, or be 
butchered or taken prisoners of war. They were or- 
ordered to withdraw accordingly. The killed and 

31* 



366 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

wounded were left, of necessity, and about thirty cap- 
tured, who were too late to fall back with their com- 
rades. The rest went to the rear some five or six 
hundred yards, and formed another line of battle 
across the road leading to United-States Ford from 
Chancellorsville. Immediately upon gaining this space, 
the rebels planted their artillery upon it, and vigorously 
shelled the several lines of battle in front which re- 
mained unbroken, throwing the fiery projectiles into 
the hospitals among wounded and dying men, some of 
whom were their own troops. Perceiving that any 
farther advance would be impossible, without a repeti- 
tion of the process which had cost them so dearly earli- 
er in the day, at twelve o'clock the infantry retired, 
leaving only a strong line of skirmishers to hold the 
ground they had gained. 

During the cannonading of the morning, a solid 
shot struck one of the columns of the Chancellorsville 
House, against which Gen. Hooker was at the time 
leaning, and prostrated him to the earth. He was 
only stunned by the shock, however, and soon recov- 
ered himself again. Shortly after, a shell entered the 
dwelling, exploded, and set it on fire. Some females 
had retired to the cellar for safety, who were compelled 
to come out by this accident, and, in the midst of a ter- 
rific cannonade, to fly to the rear. They were mem- 
bers of the Chancellor family. The fire caused them 
the loss of every thing except what they had on, in- 
cluding house, furniture, library, dresses, jewels, plate, 
paintings, and keepsakes. They were treated courte- 
ously by our troops, carried across the river in an am- 
bulance, and there regaled with a breakfast of hard- 
bread, pork, and coffee, of which they partook with 



OPERATIONS OF SEDGWICK'S CORPS. 367 

avidity ; and finally were conveyed, by their own re- 
quest, to the house of a friend in the neighborhood of 
Falmouth. 

The sixth corps, under Gen. Sedgwick, had been 
left in front of Fredericksburg, with orders to charge 
upon the heights after the enemy had become well 
engaged at Chancellor sville ; and, if successful in car- 
rying them, to come up in the rear of Lee from Fred- 
ericksburg, and make an assault. Accordingly, at 
four o'clock in the morning, Sunday, May 3, the head 
of the corps began to move towards the rebel city. 

Before entering the streets of the town, the Federal 
batteries were brought up, and planted so as to com- 
mand the hostile works ; sharp-shooters took positions 
convenient for their operations ; and a vigorous fire of 
rifled cannon opened the conflict. The rebels replied 
at once, showing that they were in considerable force, 
and determined not to be driven from their intrench- 
ments if they could hold them. A few earthworks in 
front and along the flanks of the main fortification 
had been abandoned ; but for six hours of continuous 
fighting, they held the crest of the hill, firing as rap- 
idly as they dared to load their guns while in plain 
sight of the Union riflemen. Between eleven and 
twelve o'clock. Gen. Sedgwick determined to charge 
the heights. Col. Burnham's light brigade was ac- 
cordingly ordered forward, while another force, at the 
right of the dreaded stone wall, cleared the way of 
skirmishers and marksmen. Throwing aside their 
knapsacks, and whatever else might impede rapidity of 
motion, or ease in climbing, they took position directly 
before that angle on the plain known as " the slaugh- 
ter-pen," where the rebels could concentrate their most 



368 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

galling and deadly fire. The Union artillery, at the 
same time, opened with solid shot and shell, aiming 
over their heads, and planting their heavy balls in the 
enemy's first line of earthworks with admirable preci- 
sion. To this fire the rebels made no reply, showing 
that they knew what was coming, and were reserving 
their ammunition for surer work at shorter range. 
They had not long to wait ; for in twenty minutes from 
the time the men began to form, they were moving 
steadily forward, as it seemed, right into the jaws of 
death. No sooner had they reached the open plain 
than the rebel guns vomited forth rapid discharges of 
canister and shell, smiting many a gallant fellow to 
the earth, and covering the plain with fleecy masses of 
smoke, which hid both the works and storming-par- 
ty momentarily from observation, and caused thousands 
of spectators in Falmouth, and on the hills around the 
city, to hold their breath with suspense. In another 
instant, the battle-shroud was lifted, and the light bri- 
gade was seen steadily advancing, on the double-quick, 
across the thousand feet or more separating them from 
the stone wall. Knowing what a tempest of destruc- 
tion the intrepid fellows were facing down there, it 
made the eyes moisten involuntarily, and the body 
thrill from head to foot, to hear their battle-cry rising 
above the thunder of the conflict, and to see their line go 
onward witli unbroken regularity, leaving here a man 
or two, and there a dozen, killed or crippled and writh- 
ing with pain, — onward still, never faltering, — and 
the stone wall was reached ! Here the worst was by 
no means over.; for its steep face, which afforded par- 
tial protection, must be scaled, and the whole person 
exposed upon the plain above, every inch of which 



OPERATIONS OF SEDGWICICS CORPS. 369 

was swept by a perfect tornado of missiles, coming 
from the front and left wing of the rebel position. 
But they were not to be driven back now. It was 
hardly the work of a moment to climb the wall, and 
form on the bluff. Then, with a cheer, they dashed 
on to the rebel embankments, jumped upon the ram- 
parts, poured through the embrasures, drove the reb- 
el infantry pell-mell from the position, captured guns 
and cannoneers where they stood, and, precisely as the 
clocks of Fredericksburg tolled out the hour of twelve, 
unfurled the banner of beauty and glory from the 
stronghold which had so long defied the power of the 
Union arms. 

The guns captured were those of the famous Wash- 
ington artillery, of New Orleans, which had played 
such a prominent part in the Rebellion from the first 
Bull Run until this assault. As our troops leaped 
over the parapet, and plunged in among them, one of 
their gunners cried out, — 

'' Who are these men ? " 

" We are Yankees ! " was the response, with an ex- 
pletive. 

"What do you think of our fighting now?" asked 
one of the storming-party. 

To this no reply was vouchsafed ; but the captain 
of the artillery remarked, — 

" You have captured the best battery in the Con- 
federate service." 

Immediately upon taking the first line of earth- 
works, an advance in force was made upon those in 
the rear, which were carried with but slight loss ; and 
the regiments of Gen. Howe's division were scattered 
over the hills in pursuit of the enemy. 



370 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Here occurred the greatest mistake made during 
the battle. Gen. Howe's division was not allowed to 
remain in the works, but ordered to join the other di- 
visions, which had gone on beyond the city to fall 
upon Gen. Lee's rear. No sooner had they done so, 
than, as might have been expected, the rebel fugitives, 
who had scattered down the roads and through the 
woods, rallied again, regained and re-occupied the 
works for which we had just paid such a fearful price, 
and began to mass their forces for an assault upon 
Sedgwick's rear and left. 

A few miles out of Fredericksburg, the head of the 
sixth corps encountered a large body of the enemy, 
under Gen. McLaws, strongly posted, who arrested 
their progress, and kept them occupied from five 
o'clock in the afternoon until nightfall. At night, 
Gen. Lee threw out a strong force of skirmishers in 
front of his position, opposite to Gen. Hooker, and fell 
back to effect a junction with McLaws, and the next 
morning crush Sedgwick, or drive him into the river. 
Had Gen. Hooker penetrated this ruse, all would have 
gone well. Gen. Lee ventured every thing during this 
movement; but thereby gained his point, and remained 
master of the field. On the morning of Monday, the 
4th, Sedgwick had a strong force of the enemy in front 
of him, another in the rear, and another on his left 
flank. At four o'clock in the afternoon, they charged 
upon his lines. 

From batteries posted so as to sweep every direc- 
tion, he poured a destructive fire into their closed 
columns, checking and driving them back in confu- 
sion beyond tlie range of his shot. Again and again 
they re-formed, again and again advanced, closed in 



J 



RETREAT OF GEN. SEDGWICK'S CORPS. 371 

mass, notwithstanding the havoc he made in their ranks, 
until, finally, perceiving himself outnumbered and out- 
flanked, and that the enemy were likely to be success- 
ful in their efforts to cut off his only line of retreat to 
the river, after five hours' desperate fighting, during 
which he had lost nearly four thousand men, Gen. 
Sedgwick retired, in good order, to Bank's Ford ; 
crossed over to the other side, saving his artillery and 
camp equipage ; and reported accordingly to Gen. 
Hooker, who still remained inactive in the vicinity of 
Chancellorsville. 

Meanwhile, at daybreak Monday morning, the ene- 
my opened a battery upon the supply-trains of Gen. 
Hooker's army, parked on the opposite bank of the 
river. The cannoneers had hardly fired half a dozen 
rounds, before a portion of the twelfth corps was upon 
them, and every gun was captured and brought off the 
field. It was a battery of six-pound rifled iron guns, 
very poorly equipped ; portions of the harness being 
supplied with ropes, or in a tattered and dilapidated 
condition, and both horses and men looked as though 
they had suffered from short commons for some time. 
During the whole of Monday, while Gen. Lee and the 
bulk of his forces were away in pursuit of Sedgwick, 
the rebels kept up a series of feints all along the Union 
line, driving in our pickets, picking off our ofiicers, 
and keeping our men in constant expectation of a vig- 
orous assault. They also attacked various working- 
parties in the trenches, and conveyed precisely the im- 
pression they desired, — that they were still in force 
before us, and might, at any moment, appear for another 
fierce assault. 

Gen. Berry, commanding the second division third 



372 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

corps, had been killed by them on the previous xiay ; 
and Gen. Whipple, of the third division, was subse- 
quently mortally wounded, while leaning against a tree 
in his own camp. 

Monday night, their skirmishers and several pieces of 
light artillery were unusually active, harassing and 
exhausting the men exposed to their fire, and making 
sleep next to impossible. At daylight, Tuesday, how- 
ever, all was quiet again. They had accomplished 
their object ; reunited their scattered divisions ; pre- 
vented an attack in front while they were weakened 
and exposed ; and, now that they felt secure again, 
they gave themselves up to a few hours' repose. 

About noon, Tuesday, the 5th, preparations were 
made by Gen. Hooker to abandon his position, and fall 
back across the river. Pioneers and extra details were 
at once set to work, repairing the old roads, construct- 
ing new ones, and felling trees in the rear to impede 
pursuit. A furious thunder-storm, which broke forth 
at four in the afternoon, was of material advantage to 
these operations, as it covered the noise necessarily 
made, and kept the enemy under whatever shelter 
he could improvise for his protection. Early in the 
evening, the hospitals were safely transferred ; and the 
trains and artillery followed them. Before three 
o'clock the next morning, all the guns, wagons, and 
mule trains were across ; and the passage of the infan- 
try began. It continued, without intermission, until 
after daybreak, and was uninterrupted by any attempt 
on the part of Gen. Lee to prevent it. 

The dead were left mainly where they fell ; and 
many of the wounded, who were too seriously injured 
to be removed, fell into the enemy's hands. 



CASUALTIES. 373 

As the rain continued falling nearly all night, it 
rendered the passage of the river unusually hazardous, 
and reduced the roads to such a condition, that the 
troops were splashed with mud from head to foot. In 
this condition, they plodded wearily along to their old 
camping-grounds, a fourth time foiled and disappointed 
in their advance upon Richmond, but determined to 
try it again, and to keep trying it, until rewarded with 
success. 

The Union loss in this battle w^as as follows : — 

Officers killed, 154 ; enlisted men killed, 1,358 ; 
officers wounded, 624 ; enlisted men wounded, 8,894 ; 
prisoners, 6,000 ; total, 17,030. 

The losses to the enemy, according to General Order 
No. 49, issued from Gen. Hooker's headquarters May 
6, were five thousand prisoners captured, fifteen colors 
and seven pieces of artillery brought off the field, vast 
amounts of stores destroyed, and eighteen thousand, 
men placed hors cle combat. 

Among the killed of the enemy were Gens. Paxton 
and Stonewall Jackson, whose removal at this critical 
period more than made up for the loss of the battle. 

The following is a list of killed, wounded, and 
missing of the First Regiment, copied from the official 
report forwarded to the Adjutant-General of Massa- 
chusetts, by Col. McLaughlin, a few days after the 
battle : — 

Company B : Killed, Private Charles F. Robbins. 

Company D : Killed, Corporals George R. Baxter, 
Stephen Badger. 

Company E : Killed, Private Charles A. Brown. 

Company F: Killed, Privates Joseph Mclntire, An- 
drew Greardon, William F. JoUimore. 

32 



374 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Company H : Killed, Private Stephen G. Emerson. 

Company I : Killed, Capt. Charles E. Hand ; Pri- 
vate Samuel F. Wilder. 

Company A : Wounded, Privates Fernando A. Mc- 
Crillis, in the body ; William Bowes, in the side ; 
Daniel G. Kelly, in the face; Patrick Reardon, in the 
shoulder ; Charles Green, in the groin ; William J. 
Chase, in the shoulder ; Michael Callaghan, in the 
hand ; J. Martin Woodworth, in the face. 

Company B : Wounded, Corporal Jacob F. Holmes, 
in the arm; Privates David Lane, in the body; Lewis 
G. Smith, in the knee. 

Company C : Wounded, Corporal Eben B. Nichols, 
in the hip ; Privates John H. Hoffman, in the hand ; 
Charles H. Wood, in the shoulder. 

Company D : Wounded, Lieut. James Dolierty, in 
the hand ; Corporal Charles D. Jackman, in the head ; 
Privates George H. Butler, in the hand ; John H. 
Baldwin, in the face. 

Company E : Wounded, Sergeant Hugh Cummings, 
in the body ; Privates Edward Carey, in the hip ; 
Edward Potter, in the shoulder. 

Company F : AVounded, Sergeants William H. Jep- 
son, in the right leg ; Robert B. Smith, in the shoulder ; 
Charles F. Brown, in the shoulder ; Corporal Michael 
Haley, in the arm and liand ; Privates Frederick A. S. 
Lewis in the body ; Edward R. Chandler, in the wrist ; 
John D. Thing, in the hip. 

Company G : Wounded, Lieut. George Myrick, in 
the jaw ; Sergeant Rawlins T. Atkins, in the leg ; Pri- 
vates Thomas Kennedy, in the arm; James Fitzger- 
ald, in the body ; Peter W. Marlow, in the body. 

Company H : Wounded, Sergeant Thomas H. Bige- 



CASUALTIES. 375 

low, in the leg ; Corporal William J. Wright, in the 
side ; Privates Nathaniel B. Emerson, in the hand ; 
William W. Smith, in the body. 

Company I : Wounded, Privates Charles E. Fille- 
brown, in the face ; Augustine Towle, through both 
thighs ; George E. Gordon, in the arm ; Elisha R. 
Harrington, in the right leg. 

Company K : Wounded, Sergeant George D. Robin- 
son, in the hip ; Corporal William Evans, in the head ; 
Privates Charles S. Learned, in the hand ; Thomas 
Finsley, in the right lung ; Gorham S. Kendricks, in 
the breast. 

Company A : Missing, Private John C. Singer. 

Company B : Missing, Sergeant Luke E. Jenkins, 
Corporal William A. West, Private George Barry. 

Company C : Missing, Corporal John H. G. Mun- 
roe ; Privates William H. Estabrooks, Elijah Tuells. 

Company D : Missing, Sergeant William Vincent. 

Company E : Missing, Sergeant Hugh Cummings ; 
Corporals Joseph C. Riley, John S. Larrabee ; Private 
Robert Cantwell. 

Company F : Missing, Corporal William H. Foss ; 
Privates Albert A. Faunce, Ephraim H. Hall, William 
Semple, Thomas McManus. 

Company G : Missing, Capt. Henry Parkinson, Lieut. 
Rufus M. Megquire ; Corporals Jolm J. Houghton, 
Laban W. Turner, Charles S. Morton, Edwin L. 
Thayer, Alva J. Wilson ; Privates John E. Carver, 
Michael Desmond, George 0. Hubbard, Thomas Loth- 
rop, Francis McDonald, Garritt Nagle, Wyman B. 
Streeter, John Wiley, Thomas Wilkinson, William W. 
Wilson. 



376 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Company H : Missing, Sergeant Thomas H. Bigelow ; 
Corporals Orville Bisbee, Patrick J. Donovan ; Privates 
Calvin T. Fletcher, William Lynch. 

Company I : Missing, Privates William Prescott, 
John Doyle. 

Company K : Missing, Private George Good. 

Recapitulation : ten killed, forty-six wounded, forty- 
two missing ; total, ninety-eight. 




CHAPTER XV. 



BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 



At last, at last, Stars and Stripes 1 

Touched in your birth by Freedom's flame, 

Your purifying lightning wipes 
Out from our history its shame. 

Pure as its white the future see, — 

Bright as its red is now the sky, — 
Fixed as its stars the faith shall be, 

That nerves our hands to do or die." — G. W. Curtis. 



IMMEDIATELY after the 1)attle of Cbancellorsville, 
there was considerable correspondence between 
Gens. Hooker and Lee, owing to the fact that the 
hospital supplies of the rebel medical department had 
become exhausted, and our wounded men on the south 
side of the Rappahannock were suffering for food, med- 
icine, and the surgical appliances necessary for their 
relief. An arrangement was entered into, bj which 
ambulances were sent over on a pontoon-bridge laid 
for the purpose, when the wounded were paroled, and, 
to the number of twelve hundred, brought over tlie 
river. 

After a long and tedious march, the First Regiment 
reached its old camphig-ground, near Falmouth, at five 
o'clock on the afternoon of the 6th of May. The men 
were drenched to the skin, bespattered all over with 
mire ; and many of them, having lost tlieir knapsacks, 



378 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

containing overcoats, blankets, and changes of apparel, 
were in but a sorry plight. To add to their incon- 
veniences, camp thieves had been at work upon their 
houses during their absence, appropriating freely what- 
ever they could use or sell ; so that hardly a place could 
be made weather-tight for the night. 

Tlic weather continued gloomy and cold for several 
days, during which but very little exertion was put 
forth, beyond the effort to be as comfortable as pos- 
sible. 

The army still continued to have a good degree of 
confidence in Gen. Hooker, notwithstanding the failure 
at Chancellorsville ; and the men were in no way dis- 
heartened or demoralized. A large number of troops, 
having served out the two years, or other period of 
their enlistment, being discharged, rendered a vigor- 
ous enforcement of the draft indispensable throughout 
the North, to keep up the numbers and eflficiency of the 
Union army. 

Until the 19th of ^Fay, the regiment remained at 
hill-side camp without unusual incident. The old 
routine of guard-duty, drill, and picket, was resumed ; 
friends came on from various parts of the country ; new 
clothing,blankets, accoutrements, <tc., were distributed 
wherever there was need ; convalescents returned from 
the camp of distribution at Alexandria ; and every thing 
connected with tlie troops was put into good working 
order. 

As a sanitary precaution, all the regiments in the 
army abandoned tlieir old camping-grounds as soon as 
it became warm and dry enough to do so with safety, 
and sought eligil)le sites elsewhere. Tlie First moved 
about half a mil(i lo tlio rear of its former location, 



SICKNESS AND DEATH IN THE CAMP. 379 

pitching tents upon the surface of an elevated plateau 
immediately fronting the road from Falmouth to Po- 
tomac Creek. 

As the hot weather was approaching, and shade in- 
dispensable, many bowers were erected in front of the 
officers' quarters, and elsewhere, which gave to the 
camp an extremely gay and picturesque aj)pearance. 
A rural chapel was likewise constructed under the su- 
pervision of Major Gardner Walker, where not only the 
members of the First Regiment, but officers and men 
from other commands, attended the regular nightly 
prayer-meetings, as well as divine service on Sunday. 

From the middle to the last of May, the heat of the 
weather was very oppressive. There was scarcely any 
breeze stirring ; and all day long the sun poured down 
his most fervid rays, unbroken by a cloud. The natural 
consequence was considerable sickness. The colonel 
and both surgeons of tlie regiment were attacked, of 
whom the former and one of the surgeons recovered, 
but Neil K. Gunn, M.D., the assistant surgeon, after a 
sickness of fifteen days, died at the Potomac-Creek 
Hospital, having been in the service of the Government 
only seventy-six days. 

His remains were brought from the hospital to the 
camp, together with those of Sergeant Thomas H. 
Bigelow, of Company H, who had just died of wounds 
received at Chancellorsville ; and funeral services were 
held Wednesday afternoon, June 3, in presence of 
nearly all the medical officers of the third corps, and 
the members of the First Regiment ; the bodies being 
buried, with military honors, in the graveyard of the 
second division hospital. 

While the hostile armies were confronting each 



380 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. % 

other, Oil the first week in June, Union scouts reported 
rebel cavalry movements along the Rapidan ; and 
some changes were observed in the enemy's camps 
encircling Fredericksburg, which created the suspicion 
that Gen. Lee was about to invade Maryland or Penn- 
sylvania again. 

Tlireats to this effect had been freely made through 
the rebel press ; but military men had not supposed 
that so sagacious a general as Lee would undertake 
such a campaign under the circumstances, and at- 
tributed these articles to the vaporings of certain hot- 
headed partisans, who had gone rebellion-mad. Gen. 
Lee, however, was evidently intent upon the accom- 
plishment of something. He dared not venture to 
attack the Union army at Falmouth ; neither could he 
atford to waste the summer in inaction : so he pro- 
jected the withdrawal of Gen. Hooker from his posi- 
tion at Falmouth ; tlie relief of the Shenandoah Valley 
from the Federal troops, who had occupied it for sev- 
eral months ; and the transfer of hostilities to some 
part of the country north of the Potomac, including 
the deliverance of Virginia from the presence of her 
enemies. 

On the 3d of June, two divisions of the rebel army 
moved north towards Culpepper Court House. They 
were followed, on the 4tli and 5th, by the balance of 
Gen. Lee's forces, excepting Gen. A. P. HilPs corps, 
which was left to hold the intrenchments at Fredericks- 
burg. The rebel cavalry, under Gen. Stuart, began to 
gather at tlie same time in the vicinity of Beverly Ford, 
on the Ilapj)ahaiinock, preliminary to an aggressive 
movement in some direction. 

On the 5th, Gen. Hooker ordered Gen. Howe's di- 



RECONNOISSANCE. 381 

vision of the sixth corps to cross the river below Fred- 
ericksburg, and develop the enemy's strength in the 
environs of the city. A formidable chain of rifle-pits 
had been constructed to command the crossing, out of 
which it was necessary to drive the occupants ; and 
several batteries were brought down to the river-bank, 
whose fire was so vigorous and well-directed, that col- 
umns of dust were thrown up from the rebel parapets, 
and such a tempest of projectiles sent over the edge 
of the works, that not a man dared lift his head for 
fear of instant death. In vain the officers shouted, 
cursed, and pricked men with their swords, to make 
them get up : they only hugged mother-earth the 
closer. Under cover of the artillery, the pontoon-boats 
were carried down the bank, and launched; and the 
Twenty-sixth New- Jersey Regiment, ferrying themselves 
over, mounted the bank, carried the works at the point 
of the bayonet, and captured eighty prisoners. Our 
loss was less than forty killed and wounded. A por- 
tion of the division immediately began to cross, en- 
countering no further opposition from the enemy ; and 
by the middle of the next day were strongly intrenched 
upon the southern bank of the river. Occasionally a 
rifleman or an artillerist would send a ball from the 
rebel lines in the vicinity of the city ; but no damage 
was inflicted. 

On Tuesday, the 9tli of June, while the rest of the 
army was at rest, two brigades of cavalry under Gen. 
Buford, with twelve light guns, and an infantry reserve 
of two regiments, crossed the Rappahannock at Bev- 
erly Ford to make a reconnoissance in the direction of 
Culpepper. They found the enemy strongly posted 
beyond the ford, in a semicircular patch of woodland 



382 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT, 

along tlic outer edge of which were a number of rifle- 
pits, comnaanding tlie ascent from the river in all 
directions. 

Pickets guarded the fords ; and beyond them but 
a short distance could be seen the smoke caused by 
numerous camp-fires, denoting the presence of the 
enemy in large numbers. It was only the work of a 
moment to drive in the picket-line ; when, with a wild 
shout, the horsemen charged upon the rifle-pits. Never 
was combat more uneven. Though men and animals 
in rapid motion afforded but uncertain targets for tlie 
most skilful marksmen, neither the carbines nor pistols 
of the cavalry could l)e made effective till the con- 
tending parties came to close quarters. Ever since 
the fight at Kelly's Ford, close quarters had been dis- 
tasteful to the enemy ; so that, as soon as this intention 
was observed, the rebel sharp-shooters began to leave 
their pits, and scatter through the woods. They were 
followed so closely, however, that the main body in the 
rear was taken by surprise ; and, during the brisk en- 
gagement which ensued, they had hardly recovered 
their self-possession, before Gen. Pleasanton, having 
accom[)lished what he had undertaken, wheeled his 
command to the right and left, and galloped l)ack 
across the river. During one of the charges made by 
tlie sixth Pennsylvania cavalry, they broke through 
the rebel line of battle, and reached their rear, riding 
entirely round their right flank, and so returned to 
their former places. In another charge, the Union 
horsemen got so mixed up with the enemy, that the 
rebel cannoneers, unable in the distance to tell them 
apart, killed more of their own men by their cani^^ter 
and spherical case than they did of ours. 



GEN. LEE'S INTENTIONS DEVELOPED. 383 

The Union forces lost three hundred and sixty killed, 
wounded, and missing : the rebels a much larger num- 
ber, including two hundred prisoners. 

The best result of the reconnoissance was, that 
papers were obtained conveying reliable information of 
a movement against Washington, on the part of Gen. 
Lee, combining the invasion of Pennsylvania, a blow at 
loyal Maryland, and such other mischief as circum- 
stances might enable him to accomplish. Preparations 
were immediately made by the authorities at Washing- 
ton, and by the governors of Pennsylvania and Mary- 
land, to prevent the attainment of his object. One 
hundred thousand militia were called out by the 
President ; a large number of volunteers was gathered 
together under Gen. Couch, at Harrisburg, Penn. ; the 
Army of the Potomac was strengthened as much as 
possible ; the cavalry corps entered upon a series of 
manoeuvres, so skilfully conducted as finally to sunder 
all communication between the infantry and cavalry 
of the enemy ; and, finally, Gen. Hooker put the wliole 
of his troops in rapid motion on the right of Gen. 
Lee's columns, to act both on the defensive for the pur- 
pose of covering Washington, and on the aggressive to 
drive the enemy out of Maryland and Pennsylvania. 

Thursday, June 11, the First Regiment broke camp 
at twelve o'clock, and proceeded, with the rest of the 
division, to Hartwood Church. They arrived at seven 
o'clock, and bivouacked in the open field for the night. 
The march was resumed the next morning, and con- 
tinued until ten o'clock, p.m., to Beverly Ford. Nearly 
thirty miles were traversed at a rapid pace, through 
clouds of dust in some places so dense, that vision was 
impossible beyond a few yards ; and a large number of 



384 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

the men fell out by the wayside, utterly overcome by 
heat and fatigue. Owing to the presence of the enemy, 
Beverly Ford was held in force during the 13th and 
14th ; and at the right, a little in advance of the bri- 
gade, field-works were thrown up for artillery. 

Assaults were made on the 12th, 13th, and 14th, by 
Gens. Ewell, Early, and Johnson, upon Gen. Milroy's 
defences at Whichester. The enemy were in over- 
whelming force, while Gen. Milroy had less than seven 
thousand men, with only three batteries and six siege- 
guns. 

The rebels were kept at bay, principally by the fire 
of our artillery, nearly three days. Unable to advance 
into ^ilaryland or Pennsylvania unless they took the 
place, they determined upon its acquisition at all haz- 
ards ; and on Sunday afternoon, the 14th instant, 
their infantry charged impetuously upon the outer 
works, regardless of wounds and death, sustaining se- 
vere losses in front of the batteries, but advancing to 
the very muzzles of the cannon, — leaping ditches, 
mounting breastworks, and rushing at cannoneers and 
supports, in such overwhelming force, as to prevail 
against tliem by the sheer force of numbers. 

Gen. Milroy endeavored to retreat with the residue 
of his command, but was cut off on the road to Mar- 
tinsijurg, and lost two regiments entire, tlirce full bat- 
teries of field-pieces, every one of his siege-guns, two 
hundred wagons, with liorses and mules, six thousand 
muskets, and large quantities of commissaries', (quar- 
termasters' and ordnance stores, including anununi- 
tion of all kinds. This disaster cleared the way for 
the invasion of Maryland. 

On the night of Sunday, June 14, the First Regi- 



SUFFERING AMONG THE TROOPS. B85 

meiit was relieved, at Beverly Ford, ])y a squadron of 
cavalry, and commenced moving in the direction oi' 
Warrenton Junction. Tlie men were kept marching 
all night, by a circuitous route, and arrived at their 
destination at eight o'clock the next morning. After 
a short halt, they proceeded in the direction of Bristow 
Station, and finally bivouacked in vicinity of the Junc- 
tion. The weather at this time was oppressively warm, 
the roads as dry as ashes, and water scarce, which 
combined to produce an unprecedented amount of suf- 
fering among the troops. Tlie daily marches were un- 
usually long, and made at an unusually rapid pace ; so 
that the roads were lined with stragglers, — represent- 
ing almost every regiment, — some of whom had been 
sun-struck, and were completely broken down. To 
add to the discomforts ordinarily experienced, the 
woods and fields had been set on fire, intentionally or 
otherwise, which filled the atmosphere with smoke and 
cinders, compelling the soldiers to bivouac upon the 
open plains. 

June 16, Bull Run was reached and crossed ; the 
next day Centreville was occupied, where the com- 
mand halted a day ; and, on the 19th, Gum Spring, a 
dilapidated village on the Leesburg Turnpike, was en- 
tered. 

Here the command remained six days, in a pleasant 
grove by the roadside, acting as support to the pickets. 
The whole country was infested with guerillas, who 
lurked about in vicinity of the camps, and picked up 
all the information they could make available. It l)e- 
came necessary, ou account of their proximity, to keep 
a closer watch than usual; and many residents in the 
vicinity, including several females, were placed under 

33 



>{8(j THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

arrest and broiTght to headquarters, upon suspicion of 
having covert dealings with the enemy. 

A march followed, by the way of Edwards' Ferry, 
to the mouth of the Monocacy River, which, for length, 
severity, and discomfort, exceeded any thing the army 
ever had been through before. The Potomac was 
crossed at the ferry, on a bridge twelve hundred feet 
in length, upheld by sixty-four pontoon-boats. It was 
nearly five o'clock in the afternoon when the Mary- 
land side of the Potomac was reached ; and a heavy 
rain had set in, accompanied by a raw, cold wind. 
The tow-path of the Ohio and Chesapeake Canal proved 
to be the only available route to the Monocacy ; and, 
as this was very narrow, progress was necessarily slow. 
The rain, which fell in torrents, raised the canal so 
that in seme places its waters poured over the em- 
bankment into the Potomac River; and the flood led 
many soldiers to mistake the path, and plunge head first 
into the canal. There was no place to rest, with any 
comfort ; and therefore the march was kept up, at a 
(juick pace, until one o'clock, a.m. The consequence 
was, tliat whole regiments fell out of line, and staid until 
morning on the narrow strip of land between the river 
and the canal ; wliile, of other regiments, not more 
than one man in ten attempted to push through with 
the head of the column. Three hundred and sixty 
men belonging to the First left Gum Spring in the 
nnjrning; but only forty laid down in the rain, seven- 
teen hours after, on tlie banks of the Monocacy. The 
rest had given out. 

Meanwhile the cavalry, under Gen. Pleasanton, con- 
tinued to liover aljout tlie flanks of the enemy, and 
occasionally to have an encounter in vicinity of some 



THE REBEL ARMY IX PEXXSYLVANIA. 387 

gap or important thorouglifare of equal value to both 
parties. At Aldie, ou the 18th, and at Upperville, on 
the 21st, the enemy were found strongly posted, and, 
after several hours' hard iiglithig, were driven in confu- 
sion from the field. Some pieces of artillery were taken 
from them, as well as numerous small-arms. A large 
number Avere killed and wounded, including several 
officers ; and nearly one hundred captured. They left 
the field covered with their dead and dying, all of 
whom fell into our hands. 

On the 22d of June, Gen. Hooker's army held the 
line of the. Potomac, from Leesburg up, and had pos- 
session of all the gaps in the Bull-Run Mountains. The 
enemy liad advanced into Pennsylvania, in separate col- 
umns, studiously avoiding pillage and wanton destruc- 
tion, but seizing the produce of the country whenever 
it was necessary, for which rebel money was tendered 
in payment ; or, if the owners preferred, they were given 
quartermasters' vouchers. On the 28th, a demand 
was made upon the inhabitants of York, Peun., then 
held by the enemy, to pay over tlie sum of one hun- 
dred thousand dollars in greenbacks, supply two hun- 
dred barrels of flour, forty thousand pounds of fresh 
beef, thirty thousand bushels of corn, and other things 
in proportion. The demand was only complied with in 
part, as it w^as utterly impossible for the people to 
obtain the articles desired in such quantities. 

By Saturday, the 2Tth, Gen. Hooker's forces lay in 
the vicinity of Frederick, Md. ; and, holding all the 
fords of the Potomac, and the various roads by whicli, 
if defeated. Gen. Lee must fall back, put a chuck upon 
his progress northward, wlien witliin only thirteen miles 
of Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania. 



388 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Greatly to the amazement of the Union army, Gen. 
Hooker - was relieved of his command on the 2Tth, and 
Major-Gen. George G. Meade, the commander of the 
fifth army corps, was appointed to his pUicc. Tlic 
change was totally unexpected ; and, as it was made 
without the assignment of any reason by the autlioritics 
at Waslnngton, created considerable disaffection among 
the soldiers. Gen. Meade himself was uo less surprised 
than the rest of the army ; and, at such a crisis, very 
naturally shrank from the heavy responsibility so un- 
expectedly thrust upon him. Nevertheless, he entered 
at once upon the discharge of his numerous and impor- 
tant duties ; moved the several corps in such a manner as 
to cover Baltimore, keep between the enemy and Wash- 
ington, and threaten the crossing of the Susquehanna 
below Harrisburg, endangering Lee's line of retreat. 

The latter general, undoubtedly, now saw the folly 
of endeavonng to transform his army into a flying 
column, or independent corps, having no visible and 
I)ermanent base ; for he began to contract his lines, 
and gather his forces together round a common centre. 
Chambersburg, York, Carlisle, and several other in- 

* Tlic reasons assigned for his resignation by Gen. Hookor himself, before 
the Joint Committee on the Conduct of tlie War, at the second session of the 
Thirty-eighth Congress, as obtained from him by the writer, are as follow*: 

^''Firsf. An inadequate supply of troops to accomplish what was required, 
Gen. Meade receiving thirty thousand more men subsequent to Gen. Hook- 
er's retirement than the army contained on the 27th of June. 

" Second. The necessity imposed upon him of covering Harper's Ferry and 
Washington, in accordance with his original instructions; and, at the same 
time, of meeting an enemy in front numerically superior to his own force. 

'TZ/m/. A constant, though perhaps unintentional, interference on the 
l)art of the authorities at Washington with his plans and movements, which 
prevented him from acting with the freedom, promptitude, and boldness 
requisite in the emergency, and subjected him to serious embarrassment, 
besides hampering the operations of his corps commanders and cavalry." 



GETTYSBURG. 389 

considerable places, he abandoned, and concentrated 
his troops at Gettysburg. Gen. Meade speedily di- 
vined his eml)arrassment, and prepared to confront 
him in battle. The neighborhood of Gettysl)urg af- 
forded admirable advantages for the manceuvring of 
troops, being itself on elevated ground, surrounded by 
cultivated levels interspersed with farms and wood- 
lands, and was well supplied with water from various 
brooks and streams. All the great roads from Balti- 
more, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Harrisl)urg, cl'c, con- 
verged here, forming quite a thriving centre of life 
and trade. The town had a theological seminary, two 
colleges, several churches, six manufactories, a bank, 
court-house, three hotels, and a population of twenty- 
five hundred inhabitants. 

Friday, June 26, the regiment started at ten, a.m., 
having waited some time for the stragglers to come up, 
and moved toward the high lands formed by the Kitoc- 
tan and South-Mountain ranges, near Point of Rocks, 
in Maryland. The landscape in every direction was 
of surpassing loveliness : houses, barns, and farms pre- 
sented a better appearance, and the people seemed 
more thrifty, intelligent, and accommodating, than 
those we had generally met in Virginia. 

After passing the niglit on an interval of land be- 
tween the hills, beyond which, to the north and east, 
stretched out vistas of beauty it was a perfect feast to 
gaze upon, the march was resumed in the morning, 
and continued first to Jefferson, a small village at the 
base of the Kitoctan Mountains, and then to Burketts- 
ville, on the road to Crampton's Gap, which led over 
South Mountain. Most of the inhabitants of Burketts- 
ville were found hearty supporters of the Union. The 

33* 



300 rilE FIRST MASSACnVSETTS REOniEXT. 

next day, a rapid march was made throiigli Middle- 
town, a thriving and enterprising place at the foot of 
South Mountain and not far from Frederick City, 
where the stars and stripes fluttered from nearly every 
building in the principal street ; and at ten, p.m., a halt 
was made three miles beyond. 

At five o'clock on the following morning, marching 
was resumed m the direction of Taneytown, where the 
' column was greeted in a most friendly manner by 
the people, and tarried all night. On the 30th, after 
the companies had been mustered for pay, the march 
was resumed in the direction of Emmetsburg. The 
country seemed to be under good cultivation along 
the road, and most of the people stanch supporters of 
the Union. They waved handkerchiefs and flags as tlie 
troops went by, and supplied the hungry with bread, 
pies, milk, and poultry, for a reasonable compensa- 
tion. One little girl in the neighl)orhood of Bridge- 
port seemed, never weary of shouting in her shrill, 
childlike way, " Three cheers for the Union ! " and 
when one of the soldiers responded, " Three clieers 
for you, little girl I " she answered quickly, ''Three 
cheers for you. too, sir I " 

The command arrived at Emmotsl)urg, a post village 
on the Pennsylvania line, at two o'clock, Wednesday, 
July 1. Here were St. Clary's College and St. Joseph's 
Female Institute, both Roman-Catholic seminaries ; be- 
sides which the place contained four or five churches, 
over a hundred good-looking buildings, and twelve 
hundred inhabitants. Considerable disloyalty had pre- 
vailed among the people ; and their manners towards 
the soldiers were stifTand frigid. 

ITardlv had tbe men i>itched their shelter-tents on a 



DEATH OF GKX. RE YX OLDS. 391 

kiioll of ground beyond the town, when rapid and 
heavy firing was heard to the front and riglit. It had 
been expected all day, and was caused by the advance 
of Gen. Reynolds's corps beyond the town of Gettys- 
burg, against a division of Gen. Hill's rebel corps 
posted across the road to Chaml)ersburg. An assault 
by Gen. Buford's Union cavalry forced back the ene- 
my's first line ; but the advance of the whole rebel 
division compelled Buford to retire, to whose support 
Gen. Reynolds hastily came forward, when he was 
fiercely assaulted in the streets of the town itself. A 
brisk engagement immediately ensued, spreading be- 
yond the town to the right and left, and resulting in a 
partial repulse for the Federal forces. Emboldened by 
their success, the enemy pressed impetuously forward 
upon the right and centre, exposing their right to 
a flank attack, by which large numbers were taken 
prisoners, and their advance instantly arrested. At 
the same time, artillery was brought forward, and 
served with such skill and precision, that they broke, 
and retreated beyond the ridge, north-west of the town. 
At this juncture. Gen. Reynolds incautiously rode 
forward to reconnoitre, when his staff was greeted 
with a shower of bullets ; and, during the confusion 
which followed, a rifle-ball struck him in the neck, 
severing the vertebra?, and causing instant death. 

The eleventh corps now arrived ; and Gen. Howard 
immediately disposed the divisions of both corps so as 
to dispute the enemy's advance upon the town. The 
rebel divisions of Rhodes, Early, and Pender, were like- 
wise massed to the north and east of the town, pre- 
paratory to an assault. Both parties desired to hold 
Cemeterv Ridsre, which was the most important mill- 



392 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

tary position in the vicinity. In numbers largely su- 
perior, the enemy charged upon the town ; but his 
forces were at once greeted with such a scathing fire 
as caused them to fall back in rear of their artil- 
lery. Again their lines were formed and reenforced, 
and once more pushed forward. They were greet- 
ed with a fire more deadly than before, and a second 
time driven back. For a final etfort, the reserves 
were now brought to tlie front, and a cliargc made 
with their whole force. Lapping over both flanks of 
the Union corps, their numerical superiority made this 
endeavor successful. Gen. Howard gradually drew 
off his men from the town, and concentrated them 
upon Cemetery Ridge, in the rear ; while the enemy 
pressed on, occupied the town, and swept in a semi- 
circular line round to the north and east of the ridge. 
No farther advance was attempted that afternoon, as 
Gen. Lee was not aware how numerous were the 
Union forces, and was not inclined to risk a general 
engagement witliout accurate and reliable information 
concerning the resources of his opponent. It had not 
Ijcen his intention to venture a great battle so far from 
his base ; but the condition of the country, rendering 
his trains unsafe, and withdrawal next to impossible, 
together with his great desire to defeat Gen. ^leadp, 
and secure the invaluable results which would thence 
ensue, led him to prepare for an assault the next day 
along the whole line. 

Meanwhile, the First Regiment rapidly approached the 
scene of conflict. Larc^e numl)ei's of Dutch farmers were 
})assed on the road, sitting with their families on the 
fences fronting their estates, gaping at the trooi)s mov- 
ing by ; and the able-bodied men among them received 



Pn?:LIMIXAUY MOVKMEXTS. 393 

any thing but complimentary salutations, as the weary 
troops plodded along to defend the lives, rights, and 
property of such creatures. 

Approaching the neighborhood of Gettysburg after 
dark, a mistake was made in the roads, which led the 
division directly through the enemy's lines, and witliin 
a few hundred feet of thirty pieces of their artillery. 
The mistake was discovered by the capture of a 
sergeant of a rebel battery at supper in one of the 
houses, wlien the column faced about, and quietly re- 
traced its steps. The right road was soon found ; 
and, at two o'clock in the morning, the jaded soldiers 
threw themselves upon the ground, under the shadow 
of Round Top Hill. Most of the Federal soldiers had 
by this time arrived in the vicinity of Gettysburg ; and 
all of Gen. Lee's forces, amounting to ninety thousand 
men, had been massed along Oak Ridge, and to tlie 
north and east of the cemetery, which was the key to 
the Union position. 

During Thursday forenoon, the 2d instant, there was 
very little firing, except from the skirmishers, who were 
posted along the front of botli lines, from Round Top 
on the extreme left, to Wolf Hill on the right. Infor- 
mation was brought in by the cavalry at noon that the 
rebels were massing in front of our centre and left for 
an assault in force. Gen. Sickles immediately moved 
his corps forward to an elevated plot of ground under 
cover of Round Top, and deployed skirmishers along a 
line of fences running nearly parallel with the Emmets- 
burg road. 

He had hardly finished the disposition of his troops, 
when the enemy emerged from the woods in solid lines, 
and began a rapid advance. Observing the change 



394 THE FIIiST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

made ill tlic Union front hj Gen. Sickles' manoeuvre, 
liowcver, tlicy obliqued a little to the left, and re- 
sumed their advance. The skirmishers ^vere scat- 
tered before them instantly ; but the line of battle stood 
firm. Artillery and infantry were so posted, that every 
shot would tell ; and the first fire made such fearful 
havoc in their ranks, that they came to a halt. Closing 
up the gaps, they again moved forward, firing volley 
after volley as long as the regiments remained suffi- 
ciently unbroken to retain their organization, and then 
loading and firing each man for himself, wherever 
he hapj)encd to be. Their advance was steadily re- 
sisted for over an hour by the third corps, assisted 
only by the batteries upon Round Top, and a few guns 
on the left, when Gen. Sickles fell back to his first po- 
sition along Cemetery Ridge ; having the fifth corps 
upon his left, and the second on his right. 

Longstreet's men evidently supposed they had gained 
an advantage ; for they came on without hesitation up 
the rocky and steep ascent separating them from the 
Union lines, and were mowed down by hundreds ere 
they seemed to realize that the ridge was not thus easily 
to be wrested from its brave defenders. Recnforced by 
a second line of battle, they stubbornly fought their way 
to and along the base of Round Top, and made a diver- 
sion towards the Taneytown road, as if to strike ui)on 
our Iqft flank. They encountered Buford's cavalry 
there, however ; and at the same time two divisions 
from tlie twelftli corps came up, with the whole of the 
second, and a i)ortion of the first, which at once took 
l)art in the battle, spreading a rapid infantry fire 
along tlie l)asc and brow of the ridge, until it reached 
Gen. Meade's lieadquarters, and awakening tlie tliun 



THE GREAT STRUGGLE. 395 

ders of tlio batteries all along the summit, as soon as 
the rebel battalions came within cannon-range. 

Longstreet's troops were now strcngtlicned by Mc- 
Laws' and Anderson's divisions, constituting his third 
line of battle, who moved over the field, knowing they 
were the forlorn hope, and must save the day, or it 
was lost beyond all peradventure. They charged, and 
fought as oiily men do and will when they know that 
every thing depends upon their personal valor and 
steadfastness. Up the rocks of Round Top, along the 
fields near the peach-orchard, across the Emmctsburg 
road, in front of Rogers' farm, they surged in solid 
masses, only to be hurled back, mangled and bleedino-, 
over the plain again. In some places, tliey approached 
so near the batteries that the cannoneers could almost 
touch them with their rammers before the doul)le- 
shotted pieces swept scores of them into eternity. 
Just at night occurred the most critical period of the 
fight. Gen. Sickles had been severely wounded in the 
leg. Gen. Hancock in the thigh, and Gen. Gib])ons in 
the shoulder ; and the first and second corps, hard 
pushed by the fierce assaults of the enemy in front, 
began to waver and retire. On came the enemy with 
ferocious eagerness ; but, just as they were ready to 
exult over the symptoms of a victory, the sixth corps 
pushed forward from the reserve, and poured in a 
series of volleys so withering, that they staggered and 
halted, and their half-uttered yells of triumph ended in 
screams of pain and cries of rage, their whole organi- 
zation seeming to melt away and disappear at once. 
Some of then went one way and some another. Hun- 
dreds threw down their muskets, and came into our 
lines ; and hundreds went back, crawling and limping. 



oOG THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

out of the reach of shot, swearing they woukl never 
cliargc upon them again. 

Plardly a. regiment in the third corps but had lost so 
many of its number as to render its management al- 
most impossible. In the First, Col. Baldwin and Adju- 
tant Miidgc had been crippled, a large number of offi- 
cers and men scattered about wounded and dead, and 
the rest having been forced back, Capt. John McDon- 
ough took the few remaining in his immediate vicinity, 
and pursued tlic enemy as they retired, until their shat- 
tered and discomfited ranks disappeared in the shad- 
ows of the forest, whence, but three hours before, they 
had emerged so full of confidence and hope. 

As one of our wounded men was lying in a barn- 
yard, whither he had limped to avoid the flying balls, a 
column of retreating rebels came through, on their 
way to the rear. One of them remarked, in his hear- 
ing, that he was disgusted with tlie whole thing. 

" Why not stop, and give yourselves up ? " asked the 
wounded Federal. 

" The Yankees would kill us." 

"Pshaw! whoever told you tliat lied." 

" What do you know about it ? " 

" Why, I'm a Yankee, and know how the Yankees 
treat their prisoners." 

" Are you sure they would not hurt us at all ? " 

" Sure ? of course I am, or I would not tell you so." 

" Well, what shall we do ? " 

" Leave your guns here, go out in front and shake a 
white handkerchief, and they will stop firing to let 
you come in." 

" What do you say ? " was tlic incpiiry among the 
rebels of each other; and, as a result, over two hun- 



COOLXESS UNDER FIRE. 397 

dred of them turned liack, and surrendered themselves 
prisoners of war. 

A remarkable instance of coolness under fire was 
exhibited in the midst of the battle by Lieut. James 
Doherty, who, observing tliat his company were a 
little tremulous, ordered them to bring their guns to 
the shoulder, and, while the rebel battle-front was all 
aflame with deadly volleys, and a perfect tornado of 
whizzing missiles was flying at, over, and among his 
men, he put them througli the manual of arms as qui- 
etly as he would in front of their quarters in camp. 

Another manifestation of intrepidity worthy of 
record was made by Corporal Nathaniel M. Allen, 
of Company B, who, observing that the color-sergeant 
had been shot down, and that the flag must fall into 
the hands of the enemy, who were then rapidly advan- 
cing, turned back, and under a shower of bullets lifted 
the flag, and brought it off* unharmed. 

No sooner had darkness settled down upon the earth 
than firing ceased upon both sides, the enemy having 
retired to the woods along Oak and Seminary Ridges, 
the Union forces holding the same lines they had es- 
tablished in the morning. 

At daybreak on Friday, the 3d, Gen. Lee opened fire 
upon Gen. Meade's position from at least one hundred 
and fifty guns, and for over two hours kept up an inces- 
sant cannonade. The twelfth corps, at the same time, 
advanced upon EwelFs troops north of the cemetery, to 
whose support several divisions of rebels hurried from 
the west, beyond the Emmetsburg road, with whom 
portions of the third and fifth corps became straight- 
way engaged, and so continued until Union reonforce- 
ments arrived, who opened an enfilading fire upon the 

34 



3'JS THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

eiieiny's columns, and drove them Ijack to the woods 
ao-ain. 

The struggle of the day was for Cemetery Hill. 
Just before one o'clock, Gens. Hill and Longstreet 
planted one hundred and fifteen guns so as to concen- 
trate their fire upon this small plot. At one, the signal- 
gun was discharged, and the cannonading commenced. 
It was answered gun for gun by the Union batteries, 
till the whole vicinity vibrated with the stunning peals. 
Horses and men were shot down together by the dozen ; 
fragments of g^favestones, bricks from tombs, portions 
of iron and wooden fences around lots, clouds of dust, 
and pieces of sod, mingled with fragments of shell, flew 
through the air with tA-emendous velocity, and in less 
than ten minutes, the cemetery enclosure was cleared of 
every living thing. The rebel gunners could make no 
reply to the Union batteries, which were crippling their 
"pieces in rapid succession, having received orders to 
concentrate all their fire upon Cemetery Hill. So, for 
over two hours, they kept up this most terrific can- 
nonade, one side to secure, the other to retain, the 
burying-ground, into the very graves of whose dead 
the sulphurous bolts of infuriated conflict penetrated. 
After the cannonade came the ominous quiet which 
portended a charge of infantry. It speedily followed 
the bombardment. Pickett's, Anderson's, Heth's, and 
Pettigrcw's divisions, swept down the hills to the west 
and south of Gettysburg, and wheeled across the valley 
towards Cemetery Ridge. A galling fire of canister 
and shell greeted their arrival at the Emmetsburg 
road, over wiiich they imshod, una])palled, entering 
the open field in front of the infantry intrenchments. 
Against these they undauntedly advanced, vainly hop- 



TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER OF THE REBELS. 



399 



ing that their very desperation might command suc- 
cess. They were allowed to approach almost within 
pistol-shot, when ten thousand muskets sent their 
death-dealing contents full into their faces. They re- 
coiled a second, as the killed and wounded fell heav- 
ily to the earth ; but did not falter. Onward tliey 
pressed, until within only a few yards of the Union 
rifle-pits, when hundreds were smitten to the earth, 
and the pits abandoned to give the batteries in the 
rear unobstructed range over the field. Mistaking 
the abandonment of the pits for a retreat, they raised 
a shout, and darted forward, when the contents of fully 
forty pieces of artillery were discharged at point-blank 
range, directly into their midst. The effect was terri- 
ble. Men, guns, accoutrements, and every thing mov- 
able were torn to shreds ; the earth was ploughed up, 
and sent flying through the air in great clods ; the 
dead and wounded were piled up in heaps ; and, m 
the midst of masses of cannon-smoke, little knots of sol- 
diers, standing where had been unbroken lines, wavered 
and tottered, looked before, l)ehind, and on either side, 
as if bewildered or demented, not knowing wliat to do 
or whither to go. It was the turning-point of tlie day. 
Gen. Pettigrew, who led the assault, was wounded ; and 
before Gen. Pickett, who was next in command, could 
get the rebel troops in hand. Union flankers were upon 
their right, and nearly three thousand were cut off 
and captured. The rest, covered by a fresh brigade 
sent out to their relief, fell l)ack to the woods ; and the 
day was ours. 

Had the rebel batteries been supplied with am- 
munition, no doul)t they would have prolonged the 
conflict, at least for the sake of keeping up appear- 



400 THE FIR^T MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

aiiccs, while tlicy sought safety in flight ; but, as they 
had not powder enough to make it appear otherwise, 
they were obliged to allow the Union troops to con- 
clude that they had given up the struggle, and were 
about to retire. Hence, while along their lines all 
was silence and gloom, in ours all was merriment and 
rejoicing. Bands played national airs in fortissimo 
style ; men cheered at any thing and every thing in 
the excess of their enthusiasm ; and unrestrained 
hilarity ruled the hour. 

Even the wounded and bleeding sufferers in the 
hospitals seemed to forget their pain in the great joy 
our triumph universally afforded. The writer remem- 
bers two men in the third corps hospital, who said they 
were glad of and gloried in their wounds, if they had 
aided in the achievement of victory ; and several, who 
could not speak, looked the assent and sympathy their 
pale lips were unable to utter. 

Saturday, the 4th of July, was occupied by both 
armies in burying the dead, and taking care of the 
wounded. The rebel sharp-shooters continued to hre 
into our lines, and shot down several persons who were 
relieving the wants of the enemy's wounded ; but be- 
yond that they did not venture. Gen. Ewcll with- 
drew his column from the hills to the south-east of Get- 
tysburg, and from the streets of the town itself Li the 
afternoon, Gen. Lee forwarded all his wounded, who 
could bear removal, to Hagorstown, sending after them 
liis wagon-trains and artillery ; and, soon after dark, 
his whole army connncnced a retrograde movement 
towards Waterloo Gap, in South Mountain. 

His losses had Ijcen enormous. Besides the dead 
l)uried by his own men, 4,")()0 of them were buried l)y 



CASUALTIES AT GETTYSBURG. 401 

Union soldiers. Many of his wounded were carried to 
the rear, and sent to Richmond ; but nearly 27,000 
fell into our hands. We captured, l)esides, 13,621 pris- 
oners, tliree guns, forty-one standards, and 24,978 
stand of small-arms. 

The entire Federal loss was 2,834 killed, 13,790 
wounded, and 6,643 missing. 

The losses in the First Regiment were as follows : — 

Company A : Killed, Corporal Henry Evans ; Pri- 
vates George W. Parkes and John Pettis. 

Company B : Killed, Private George D. Trim. 

Company C : Killed, Sergeant Edward J. McGinnis ; 
Privates Orrin Edwards, William Kilvinton, and Wil- 
liam H. Latimer. 

Company D : Killed, Private James M. Matthews. 

Company E: Killed, First Lieut. Henry Hartley; 
Color-Sergeant William Kelren. 

Conipany F : Killed, Corporals William H. Apple- 
ton and Jolm Quincy Burrill ; Private Andrew Moore. 

Company G: Killed, Sergeant WiUiam H. Colson. 

Company H : Killed, Private Lawrence H. Kelly. 

Company K: Killed, Private Henry S. Washburn. 

Wounded : Lieut.-Col. Clark B. Baldwin, slight, in 
the arm ; Adjutant Charles E. Mudge, slight, in the 
head ; Capt. George E. Henry, Company B, severe, in 
the foot; Capt. Henry Parkinson, Company G, severe, 
right breast ; Capt. Francis W. Carruth, Company H, 
slight, in the head ; First Lieut. John S. Clark, Com- 
pany K, slight, in the neck ; Lieut. William P. Drury, 
Company A, contusion, body ; Lieut. Harrison Hinck- 
ley, Company G, painful, shoulder and head ; Lieut. 
William E. H^iyward, Company I, ball through the 
arm. 

34* 



40:2 THE Fin.^T MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Company A : Wounded, Sergeant John T. Robin- 
son, left leg, severe, subsequently died. Privates 
George A. Bailey, left arm and leg, severe ; William 
Mullen, slight, in the head ; James King, right shoul- 
der, painful ; Frank H. Mcintosh, hip, serious ; Charles 
Green, finger, trifling. 

Company B : Wounded, Corporal George W. H. 
Burbeck, loft side, severe. Privates George Goulding, 
foot, severe, subsequently died ; Daniel Coughlin, left 
arm and breast, painful ; Henry H. Brown, leg, seri- 
ous ; Charles L. Hittenheime, right leg and breast, 
dangerous ; James McNulty, right thigh, severe ; Da- 
vid H. Eaton, left knee, dangerous, subsequently died ; 
Joseph Smith, left shoulder and neck, severe ; Michael 
Condon, foot, serious ; Jacob Kesland, hip, dangerous, 
subsequently died ; Asa P. Lewis, right hand, trifling ; 
Allen T. Hamblin, leg and body, severe. 

Company C : Wounded, Orderly-Sergeant George 
A. Tenney, left shoulder, severe ; Sergeant John A. 
Duddy, left wrist, painful. Corporals Samuel W. 
Wharf, through both thighs, dangerous ; Edward Do- 
lierty, right shoulder, slight. Privates John Dwyer, 
right thigh, serious ; Robert Flynn, left arm, severe ; 
John Richards, body, trifling ; James Callahan, right 
arm, not dangerous ; Patrick Haley, right shoulder, 
painful ; John R. Miles, both thighs, dangerous ; Em- 
erson Bigelow, thigh, trifling ; Joshua A. Bracket, left 
thigh, not dangerous ; Charles H. Woods, body, sub- 
sequently died. 

Conq)any D : Wounded, Sergeant Edward Reidell, 
right arm, not dangerous. Corporals Albert G. Packer, 
arm and groin, painful ; Charles A. Lambert, breast, 
serious; John E. Ilickcy, left log, trifling. Privates 



CASUALTIES AT GETTYSBURG. 403 

Horatio G. Littlcfiold, slight contusion ; Elbridgc E. 
Currier, thigh, serious ; Edward W. Lydstoii, neck, 
slight ; Aretes C. Chamberlain, hip, trifling. 

Company E : Wounded, Orderly-Sergeant Frederick 
Pierce, left hand, severe. Corporals Amasa G. Smith, 
left shoulder, serious ; Francis Duffy, left ankle, tri- 
fling. Privates Moses C. Emerson, left thigh, severe; 
Samuel H. Cox, right shoulder, dangerous ; Friz 
Hatchky, left shoulder, serious ; John Taylor, left leg, 
slight ; Thomas Cumniings, right arm, trifling ; Rob- 
ert Kenney, left arm, not dangerous ; William Gray, 
left leg, slight ; Frederick S. Kettell, thigh, dangerous, 
subsequently died. 

Company F : Wounded, Sergeants Lewis H. Hall, 
left side, trifling ; Charles F. Brown, right hand, se- 
vere. Privates Alonzo Peasley, fore-finger shot off"; 
James E. Abbott, shot through the abdomen, danger- 
ous. 

Company G: Wounded, Sergeant George H. Tyler, 
face, painful. Privates James E. Gribben, leg, slight ; 
Dennis Foley, neck, trifling ; Henry G. Swain, arm 
and breast, serious ; James Fitzgerald, head, slight ; 
James Norton, head, insignificant. 

Company H : Wounded, Sergeant Samuel B. Bas- 
sett, face, serious. Privates Joseph W. Spooner, leg, 
slight ; Benjamin Blanchard, finger, trifling ; John 
W. Chessman, arm, serious ; Enoch C. Cornell, foot, 
severe. 

Company I : Wounded, Sergeant Charles F. Fergu- 
son, left leg amputated, subsequently died ; AVilliam 
W. Eaton, contusion. Privates Frank P. Rollins, 
right leg, dangerous, subsequently died ; Charles E. 
Fillebrown, face, severe ; Thomas Flynn, left thigh, 
serious. 



404 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Company K : Woiincled, Corporal George Everett, 
thigh, severe, subsequently died. Privates William 
H. Beal, breast, severe ; A. P. Mason, shoulder, pain- 
ful ; Garrick Moore, shoulder and leg, serious ; Orange 
S. Richardson, through both slioulders, dangerous ; 
Charles A. Young, leg, not dangerous ; Michael Con- 
nor, head, trifling. 

Company A : Missing, George A. Evans, John Don- 
ahue. 

Company B : Missing, Orderly-Sergeant George 
Murphy, Sergeant Henry B. Sellon, John Lightbody. 

Company C : Missing, Michael Cunningham, James 
Goodc, William H. Reynolds, John A. Neal. 

Company D : Missing, John W. Matthews. 

Company E : Missing, Corporal Albert A. Farnham. 

Company F : Missing, Sergeant Jerome Carlton. 

Company G : Missing, Daniel McKenzie, Joseph A. 
Newcomb, Richard B. Smart. 

Company H: Missing, Orderly-Sergeant Lionel D. 
Pliillips, E. Bruce, George S. Sullivan. 

Company I : Missing, Arthur B. Moulton. 

Company K : Missing, Lewis G. Bird. 

Reca])itulation : killed and subsequently died, twen- 
ty-six ; wounded, seventy-seven ; missing, twenty ; to- 
tal, one hundred and twenty-three. 




ON TTIK LOOKOrr. AVAPPTNC. Iiy.TOTITS. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

BATTLE OF WAPPING HEIGHTS. 

" They charge -with fire ami steel; 
They thunder o'er the plain ; 
The rebel legions reel ; 

The ground is piled with slain. 

The stricken foes divide, 

Like Jordan's fearful tide 

Smote by the hand of Heaven ; 

And right and left 

Their ranks are cleft, 

As though by lightning riven." — Riciiakd Kikke. 

GEN. LEE had no sooner reached Hagerstowii with 
the bulk of his army tlian tlie advance of Gon. 
Meade's forces was at Fiinkto wn, six miles to the south. 
From thence to Williamsport and Falling Waters on 
the Potomac, where the rebel general had left a pon- 
toon-bridge under a strong guard, he was subjected to 
perpetual annoyance and embarrassment. One brigaiie 
of cavalry and another of infantry hung on his rear, 
picking up stragglers, capturing guns, and destroying 
wagon-trains. The entire Army of the Potomac was 
on his left flank ; Harper's Ferry and Turner's Pass 
in South Mountain were occupied in force by tlie Fed- 
eral troops, cutting off escape in tliat direction ; and, 
to crown his disasters, the pontoon-bridge he had 
thrown across the Potomac was destroyed, and the 
guard captured. 

At about the same time, it began to rain ; and, tlie 
river having been vcit high previously, it Ijccamc a 



406 THE Fin ST MASSACHUSETTS BEuniEXT. 

matter of doiil)t wliether Gen. Lee could get back into 
A'irginia at all, if his reti'eat was vigorously followed 
up. 

Tuesday, July 6tli, orders came to the First Regiment 
to pack up in readiness for a move. The wounded 
were left in charge of Surgeon Wliiston, until they 
could bear removal to some regular hospital ; and the 
dead of both sides buried, with suitable inscriptions 
on the rude head-boards designating their graves. 

As soon as it began to be light, the march com- 
menced and extended through Emmetsburg to Mcchan- 
icsville, seventeen miles beyond. It had rained almost 
without intermission since the 4tli ; and the country 
was deluged wath water. The roads were little better 
than ditches ; and many of the shallow brooks had 
swollen into considerable streams. 

Mechanicsville was a thriving village of some size, 
and seemed to be occupied mainly by loyal people. 
Although provisions had begun to be scarce through- 
out tlie region, they supplied the troops, so far as they 
were able, and manifested a gcn'erous interest in their 
welfare. The defeat of Lee twice in succession had 
given tlie Federal soldiers an importance, in popular 
estimation, which was seen and felt wherever they 
moved. The feeling was universal, that the rebols 
liad made tlieir last invasion of Union soil, and that 
tlieir power was on the wane. Hence many who had 
been non-committal, while it remained uncertain which 
side was going to conquer, at once declared for tlie 
North, when there was no longer any doubt. 

From Mechanicsville, the command moved, on the 
Stii, through Lcwinsville, Kitoctan Furnaces, and Fred- 
erick City, cheered along their route by the tidings 



PURSUIT OF THE REBEL ARMY. 407 

.that Yicksburg had surrendered, and all its defenders 
and munitions of war fallen into our hands. They 
encamped a few miles beyond the city, and the next 
morning pursued their way to Middletown, Fox Gap, 
in the Kitoctan Mountains, through the Gap, and down 
the other side. 

At this point the corps was largely recnforced by the 
remnants of other brigades and fresh troops, mainly 
heavy artillery and infantry reserves from the defences 
of Washington, under command of Gen. Fi-ench. 
The weather changed, July 10, from cold to liot, and 
proved very trying to the troops. The roads were 
in such a condition, that marcliing was extremely diffi- 
cult; and the marches and fighting of previous days 
had so drawn upon the vital resources of the men, 
that they were very generally exhausted. In order to 
come up with the enemy expeditiously, forced marches 
were made, which caused the death of some, wlio were 
sunstruck, and compelled large numbers to fall out 
by the way. The battle-ground of Antietam Creek 
was reached on the 10th ; and the troops surveyed with 
melancholy interest the mounds and head-boards which 
marked the various spots where the dead oT both sides 
had been consigned to the dust the year Ijcfore. The 
march was continued to Boonsboro', thence to Rox- 
bury Mills, and thence a short distance to a wood near 
Williamsport, where orders were received to be in 
readiness for an assault upon the enemy. At that 
time it was raining in torrents. Tlie Potomac was un- 
usually high and swift, and thanks went up to Heaven 
for the rain, almost as numerous as the drops that came 
down. It was felt to be impossible for Gen. Lee to ferry 
his forces across the river, and it was known that one of 



408 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

his bridges there had been destroyed. All that seemed, 
necessary was an assault, to compel his vanquished 
and retreating army to surrender. Never were sol- 
diers seen so eager for a battle, so impatient to be 
allowed to engage the enemy. Being held where they 
were from the 12th to the 15th, while the rebels were 
so near they could see their pickets in the neighboring 
woods and on the adjoining hills, some of our soldiers 
actually wept, they were so desirous of the one grand, 
final conflict which might end the whole war, and 
release them from the privations and sufferings of 
another campaign in Virginia. 

Gen. Kilpatrick had received orders to be constantly 
on the alert, and to charge tlie rebel line of battle early 
Tuesday morning, the 14th. Receiving intimations 
during the previous night that they were getting over 
the river as fast as possible, partly by fording, and 
partly on a rude bridge of trees and timber, he gathered 
his command hastily together, and dashed off in the 
direction of tlieir retreat. He came up with their rear- 
guard at Williamsport, on the river, and at a point 
just two miles from Falling Waters. It was the work 
of a momefit to form his men, and advance to the 
assault. The enemy were strongly posted along the 
crest of a hill to the left, and in the midst of thick 
woods on the right. Their men did not fight with any 
vigor or enthusiasm ; but, being very numerous, their 
fire told seriously upon riders and horses when the 
cavalry endeavored to come to close quarters. The 
Sixth Michigan, in face of an' artillery fire from guns 
planted behind a breastwork of logs, stones, and earth, 
rode gallantly up a steep hill, exposed to the volleys 
of two lines of battle drawn up on top ; leaped the 



ESCAPE OF THE REBEL ARMY. 409 

parapet ; plunged in among the sharp-shooters and can- 
noneers, sabring such as resisted, right and left ; and 
rode back, with the loss of only thirty killed, wounded, 
and missing. Other regiments from the second bri- 
gade made similar charges ; but, as they had no in- 
fantry supports to follow up the advantages gained by 
the cavalry, the enemy were enabled to keep them at 
bay over two hours, until most of their troops had ac- 
complished the passage of the river ; when those who 
were left broke, and fell back in confusion. They were 
hotly pursued, and captured in squads, platoons, and 
battalions, to the number of fifteen hundred ; hardly 
any attempting to offer resistance. The Union loss 
was twenty-nine killed, thirty-six wounded, and forty 
missing. One hundred and twenty-five dead bodies of 
the enemy were buried on the field, fifty wounded 
were brought away, and fifteen hundred prisoners, 
three battle-flags, and two guns captured. Among their 
wounded was Gen. Pettigrew, of South Carolina, who 
died soon after at Winchester, whither he was carried 
for surgical aid. Thus the rebel army escaped from 
the clutches of Gen. Meade, greatly to tlie mortifica- 
tion and disappointment of his soldiers, who were thor- 
oughly persuaded that it could have been conquered 
entire, had they been permitted to make an assault 
as soon as they arrived. 

Sorrowfully, therefore, the next day, the column was 
formed for a continuation of the march, now destined 
to stretch into Virginia again. No enemy was found 
at Williamsport or Falling Waters ; most of the rebel 
army having made good their escape to the other side. 
Some wagons were lost and horses drowned in the en- 
deavor to get over by wading or s-wimming ; but the 

35 



410 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

bulk of Gen. Lee's transportation was safely conveyed 
into the Old Dominion to do service against the Union 
a little longer. Although there seemed to be no oc- 
casion for any hurry, the troops were immediately 
pushed on fifteen, eighteen, and twenty miles a day, to 
their manifest detriment, morally as well as physi- 
cally. 

Sharpsburg was reached and passed on the 15th ; 
and the men were very much interested in the old 
church and other buildings which had been so riddled 
and rent with shot during the great battle of Antietam. 
The next two days were spent in Pleasant Yalley, a 
charming section of Maryland ; having South Moun- 
tain on one side, and a spur of the Kitoctan range on 
the other. The land sloped so gradually, and spread 
out into broad levels so accessible and finely situated, 
that it was cultivated almost to the tops of the hills, 
and presented on every side an enchanting scene of 
verdure and beauty, combining woodland ' and field, 
summit and vale, forest and farm, in harmonious suc- 
cession aiid ever-changing variety of aspect. 

July 17, very much against their will, the soldiers 
were marched into Virginia again. They crossed a 
pontoon-bridge at Sandy Hook to Harper's Ferry, and 
from thence the wire suspension-bridge over the Shen- 
andoah to the highlands beyond. No one could pass 
through such a place as Harper's Ferry, without a 
great degree of interest. In beauty of scenery, it sur- 
passes every other town on the American continent ; 
and ever since the country's discovery has been a 
noted resort for artists and lovers of the beautiful, 
from all lands. Situated on a narrow neck of land at 
the confluence of the Shenandoah River with the Fo- 



HARPER'S FERRY. 411 

tomac, surrounded by towering heights rising perpen- 
dicularly a thousand feet from the level of the river, 
commanding a view down the valley of the Potomac 
extending for miles, it has ever received the warmest 
encomiums from travellers and tourists, native and 
foreign. 

The chief feature of interest about the place, at this 
time, however, was the old engine-house, where John 
Brown fought so desperately to further his scheme of 
universal emancipation. It was close by the water, 
on the principal street in the place, and, unless bat- 
tered down by artillery, might make a formidable 
strongliold for a few hundred resolute men, well sup- 
plied with ammunition and provisions. The United- 
States arsenal there was capable of storing ninety thou- 
sand muskets, and the armory of turning out twenty- 
five thousand a year. John Brown seized the arsenal 
Sunday night, Oct. 16, 1859, assisted by twenty-one 
other men, five of whom were negroes. They held it 
until Tuesday morning, the 18th, against fifteen hun- 
dred militia, one hundred marines, and two pieces of 
artillery ; when, having lost ten whites and three ne- 
groes killed, and four whites who had run away, the 
doors were broken open ; and the remaining five, two 
severely wounded, were taken prisoners. It was note- 
worthy to observe how promptly James Buchanan sent 
his marines and artillerists to the rescue of Harper's 
Ferry, when slavery was assailed, and how tardily the 
same President responded to the loyal call for succor 
from beleagured Sumter, less than two years after- 
wards, when slavery was the assailant. 

As soon as they entered Virginia, the spirits of the 
men drooped. Its soil was saturated with the blood. 



412 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS EEGIMEXT. 

and wliiteued with the bones, of their friends, comrades, 
and brotliers. In every direction could be seen the 
marks of ruin, desolation, and decay. The people were 
rebels, almost without exception, and having lost nearly 
every thing they possessed, through the ravages of war, 
were saturnine and truculent in their intercourse with 
the Union troops, but so poorly informed as to the real 
issues at stake, and so disinclined to any eifort for the 
acquisition of knowledge, that it seemed a waste of 
time to endeavor to reason or parley with them. From 
Hillsboro', in the neighborhood of Harper's Ferry, 
where the regiment bivouacked on the 18th, and re- 
mained until the next day, the column moved to Wood 
Grove, in the vicinity of Snicker's Gap, the day follow- 
ing, keeping close along the eastern base of the Blue- 
Ridge Mountains, so as to be within easy marching- 
distance of the gaps, should any portion of Gen. Lee's 
army attempt to leave the valley of the Shenandoah, 
and break through the Union lines. 

On the 20th, Upperville was reached, on the main road 
to Ashby's Gap. The Union and Rebel armies were 
here divided only by the Blue-Ridge range of moun- 
tains, along the eastern slope of which the troops of 
Gen. Meade were passing, and along the western those 
of Gen. Lee. Their only chance of meeting was in the 
gaps, which were, from three to six and eight miles 
long ; but hemmed in by such precipitous declivities 
as to render military operations extremely difficult. 

The rebels manifested no disposition to possess them- 
selves of any gap but that through wliich ran the 
^lanassas-Gap Railroad. Here, in close proximity to 
Front Royal, a village of five hundred inhabitants, 
pleasantly situated on Happy Creek, they threw out 



MAXA.<>A>-GAP RIILROAL. 413 

skirmishers, and established a line of battle across the 
gap. 

Having remained at Upperville most of the 20th. 
and all of the 21st, where the regimental pay-rolls 
were made out. and forwarded to Washington, and or- 
ders received for three commissioned officers and six 
enUsted men to proceed to the Massachusetts draft 
rendezvous, in Boston Harbor, for the purpose of en- 
rolling, supplying, and forwarding to the army such 
drafted men or substitutes as might be obtained, the 
line was formed again on the 22d, and the march con- 
tinued to Piedmont, a romantic little hamlet on the 
Manassas-Gap Railroad. 

This railroad was part of a line projected for the 
purpose of connecting Washington with Staunton, by 
the way of Strasburg and Harrisonburg, in the valley 
of the Shenandoah ; and, at this time, had been com- 
pleted only as far as Mount Jackson, on Mill Creek. 
It had been totally destroyed by Stonewall Jackson, 
during his retreat in 1862, and was strewn with the 
debris of half-burned sleepers ; rails bent by the action 
of fire, and rolled or twisted together, along the em- 
bankment ; car-wheels and metallic roofing : here and 
there a partially destroyed bridge or culvert, or a di- 
lapidated station-house, with all the windows broken 
and the doors smashed in. 

Along the carriage road bordering this wreck-strewn 
embankment, the regiment moved on the 2od, until 
they arrived at the entrance to the gap. The land 
now began gradually to rise, sloping down from both 
sides of the mountains, right and left, to the valley be- 
tween, alonsr which wound the road to the other side 
of the ridge. In some places, these mountains ^ where 

35* 



414 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIME XT. 

the ascent was gradual and easy, had been cleared 
of trees and bushes, and were covered with fields of 
grass, clover, and grain. In others, thev were enclosed 
with walls and fences for the pasturage of cattle and 
sheep. 

The soil was exceedingly rich, but the surface of the 
ground was- covered with loose stones, some of large 
size, above and around wliich the rank grass had 
grown, making the movement of artillery, and the 
manoeuvring of large bodies of men, matters of no 
little difficulty. The common roads, likewise, having 
been at the same time roads and beds for the moun- 
tain brooks which ran, one to the east and the otlier . 
to the west, through the gap, were rougher than any 
thing the Army of the Potomac had ever before expe- 
rienced in all its marches and travels. Movable 
stones of all sizes and shapes, from the common col> 
ble to blocks two or three feet high and as many 
broad, lay directly in the track over which wagons 
must proceed, and the artillery be driven. Army 
horses and mules usually have a hard life ; but here 
they were jerked and twitched about, and tripped up 
so constantly, that not a heart Init pitied the poor 
brutes. Knowing the nature of Manassas Gap, the 
rebels had not ventured to bring their forces farther 
than to the western entrance, and had spread theni 
out over a series of eminences known as Wapping 
Heights. 

Cavalry scouts had reported this to Gen. Meade ; and 
as it was possible for Gen. Lee to bring his army through 
this gap to Warrenton, Centreville, and the vicinity of 
Washington^ again, unless it was wrested from his 
grasp and held in force, the whole army was halted, 



• WAPPIXG HEIGHTS. 415 

and the several corps drawn up in close proximity to 
the eastern entrance. At the same time, tlic third 
corps took the lead, and, on July 23, passed through 
Springfield and Barhamsville, rural settlements within 
•the precincts of the gap, towards Front Royal. Line 
of battle was formed at ten o'clock, skirmisliers thrown 
out immediately, artillery posted on an eminence com- 
manding the road, and the advance begun. The enemy 
were posted in a lunette-shaped line, covering the road 
in front and on both sides, holding the crest of the 
highest hill, with a battery at the rear and left. Their 
skirmishers had improvised impregnable rifle-pits from 
the loose stones abounding in the vicinity, behind 
which they lay in perfect security, picking off any 
Federal soldier who remained still lono; enou2;h to 
constitute a mark ; while nothing gave evidence of their 
existence in wood or field, but the little puffs of white 
smoke that darted out of their rifle-barrels, and the 
shrill ring of their conical bullets as they came over 
into our battalions. 

Upon being assailed in considerable force, they man- 
ifested no disposition to retire ; and therefore it was 
deemed advisable to summon up a couple of corps for 
supports, and charge up the heights with the bayonet. 
Orders were accordingly sent back for reenforcements ; 
and, in the course of the afternoon, the second and 
fifth corps advanced through the narrow pass, and 
formed their lines from summit to summit across the 
gap in rear of the front line of battle. As soon as 
they were in position, tlie skirmishers were called in, 
and the several brigades of the third corps drawn up, 
by column of regiments, in front of the high ridge on 
the left commanding tlie whole field, and the lower 



416 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

eminences in front covering the road. The view from 
any of the heights was exquisitely beautiful. Front 
Royal was in the foreground, with the swelling ranges 
of Massanuten, Great North, Little North, Branch, 
and Shenandoah, rolling up against the horizon like* 
mighty billows, and disappearing finally in the distant 
west ; to the right and left were the abrupt spurs and 
towering peaks of the Blue-Ridge chain, sharply 
defined in the clear atmosphere of the region ; while to 
the rear stretched out in tranquil loveliness the wide 
expanse of plain and valley lying between Bull-Run 
Mountains and the Blue Ridge, or Bull Run and the 
Potomac. 

Up the loftiest of the Wapping Heights slowly 
toiled the soldiers of the first brigade. The enemy were 
strongly posted behind a stone wall entirely hidden 
from view, while of the first brigade every man was 
plainly visible. As long as they dared remain and 
fire, the rebels skulked under cover in their lurk- 
ing-places ; but, as soon as they saw that the pant- 
ing columns of the Union were intent upon the posses- 
sion of their position at all hazards, they let fly a 
parting volley, and beat a precipitate retreat over the 
other side of the height. The elevation gained was 
the key to the whole position ; and although the enemy 
appeared in strong force on a hillock lower down, und'er 
cover of their artillery, it was decided that they could 
not hold it, and the second Excelsior brigade was 
formed in the valley below, to dislodge them. At the 
same time, their skirmishers on the right of the road 
were forced back, cutting off their chances for an enfi- 
ladhig fire upon the charging column as it advanced. 
In the most regular manner and orderly array, the 



FLIGHT OF THE REBELS. 417 

men began their progress up the hill, concealed at first 
from the enemy in front, and marching with a slow 
step, owing to the rough and uneven character of the 
ground. As soon as they came in sight of the hostile 
line, a shower of bullets greeted their appearance ; and 
the firing became rapid all along their front. With- 
out the least confusion, and in a wonderfully short space 
of time, the men spread out in column of brigade, 
raised a shout, and started forward on the double- 
quick. Several fell, killed or wounded, before they 
were half-way to their destination ; but the rest kept on 
with accelerated pace, rushed up to the stone walls and 
rifle-pits of the enemy, shot down those of the occupants 
who tried to get away, captured others who remained, 
and put to flight the entire force opposed to them. Im- 
mediate pursuit was made with cavalry, infantry, and 
artillery, over the hills, through woods and fields, and 
along the roads ; but the rebels did not attempt another 
stand, having held the gap evidently for no other pur- 
pose than that of observation. 

The field remaining in Federal possession, a working- 
party was sent out to bury the dead of both parties, 
and bring in the wounded. The rebel loss was smaller 
than ours, inasmuch as their men were shielded by 
walls and rifle-pits. On both sides, it did not amount 
to over twenty killed, and one hundred wounded, of 
whom none belonged to the First Regiment. 

The next morning a force of mounted men moved 
forward upon Front Royal, beyond the gap. They met 
a cavalry patrol of rebels near the town, whom they 
drove through the streets, and pursued several miles 
beyond. Failing to find any considerable portion of 
Lee's army in the neighborhood, they were recalled. 



418 THE FIBST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

and the several corps returned to the eastern slope of 
the Bhie Ridge. The First remained upon the hill-top 
wliich they had taken on the previous day, until the 
afternoon of the 24th, when the settlement of Wap- 
ping Heights was left in the rear, and the line of 
march taken up' through the gap to the east. 

The night of the 24th was spent at Markham, a 
small hamlet about twenty miles from Warrenton. 
During the 25th and 26th, the column moved forward 
leisurely, and bivouacked, on the afternoon of the 26th, 
beyond Warrenton, on the road to Culpepper Court 
House. 

Warrenton was the capital of Fauquier County, Ya., 
distant one hundred miles from Richmond, and fifty 
from Washington. It had been a place of considerable 
importance before the war, having a court house, town 
hall, several stores, four churches, two hundred and 
fifty or three hundred buildings, and quite two thou- 
sand inhabitants. Several of the buildings were hand- 
some residences of wealthy and influential Virginians, 
constructed in modern style, surrounded with flower- 
gardens, and presenting quite a home-like and attrac- 
tive appearance. But it was a town almost without 
inhabitants. Most of the negroes and many of the 
white women remained ; but, of the white men who 
were able-bodied, there were very few who had not 
been in some way connected with the rebel army, 
or identified with the rebel cause, and were not at 
home. The town had been occupied and evacuated 
several times in succession by the Union and Rebel 
forces, so that the sight of soldiers was no new thing 
to the people during the summer of 1863. The first 
time Federal troops marclied through the streets, they 



WARRENTON. 419 

were subjected to various insults and annoyances from 
the women, who were only shielded by their sex from 
the punishment men would have received without de- 
lay. That feeling had vanished now, however ; for the 
troops were welcomed, or at least treated respectful- 
ly. Business was at a stand-still. Stores, hotels, and 
work-shops, were all closed, except a few small con- 
cerns kept by Jews ; and, as rebel money had depre- 
ciated so as to be comparatively valueless, the necessa- 
ries of life were either sold at enormous rates, or it 
was found impossible to obtain them at any price. 

In the vicinity were grist mills, which supplied the 
inhabitants with flour and meal ; and on tliese articles 
they were compelled to subsist month after month, 
praying and longing for the war to cease, that they 
might once more obtain the comforts and conveniences 
to which they had been accustomed. 





CHAPTER XYII. 



RIKER's island. new- YORK HARBOR. 



' Hast thou chosen, my people! on whose party thou shalt stand, 
Ere the doom from its worn sandals shakes the dust against our land? 
Though the cause of Evil prosper, yet 'tis Truth alone is strong; 
And, albeit she wander outcast now, I see around her throng 
Troops of beautiful, tall angels, to enshield her from all wrong. 
We see dimly in the present what is small and what is great: 
Slow of faith, how weak an arm may turn the iron helm of Fate ! 
But the soul is still oracular: and amid the market's din. 
List the ominous stern whisper from the Delphic cave within, — 
' They enslave their children's children who make compromise with sin! ' " 

James Russell Lowell 



ON the night of July 29, greatly to the surprise 
of officers and men, the members of the First 
Regiment were roused from their slumbers at half-past 
twelve o'clock, with orders to prepare to take the cars 
at Warrenton Junction for New York. At first, the 
half-awakened soldiers thought the summons nothing 
but a practical joke, gotten up to relieve the monotony 
of camp-life and long marches. Seriously assured 
that the orders were genuine, and might lead to hard 
fighting in the streets of New- York City itself, where 
they were to report for the presentation of order dur- 
ing the draft, they proceeded with alacrity to put every 
thing in readiness for a start. 

The people of the North had not been united or en- 
thusiastic as a whole in their support of the national 
administration. Notwithstanding the jeopardy in which 



COPPERHEADS. 421 

the country was placed by rebels at the South, and the 
urgent necessity of union and cooperation elsewhere 
to prevent the nation's overthrow, there were large 
numbers of men, mainly ousted and imbittered poli- 
ticians of the proslavery Democratic stripe, with a 
sprinkling of renegade Whig fossils, and a blustering 
array of rum-guzzling roughs and low-bred foreigners, 
who were always ready to hoot and groan at the Gov- 
ernment, to denounce President Lincoln as a reckless 
imbecile or a blood-thirsty despot, to rail at the Repub- 
lican party as a body of frantic, semi-demented, thor- 
oughly corrupt place-hunters, and to pity the patriotic 
masses and gallant leaders of secession for their suf- 
ferings and sacrifices in furthering the perpetuity of 
negro bondage. These home-traitors united to form a 
party not unlike the Tory faction of Revolutionary times, 
to whom gradually came to be applied the name of 
*' Copperheads ; " this being the name of a venomous, 
sluggish, and repulsive reptile, called also " chunk- 
head," and " deaf adder," — the most dreaded and 
dangerous serpent, after the North-American rattle- 
snake, in the country. 

This party, ever on the watch to cry out against the 
authorities at Washington, was terribly aggrieved by 
the draft, and spared no pains or expense to foment 
disaffection, and incite resistance to it in all the densely- 
populated Northern cities. Among the consequences, 
were the New-York and Boston riots. 

On the morning of Saturday, July 11, the inhabi- 
tants of the ninth precinct. New- York City, were greatly 
excited by an anti-draft demonstration in the vicinity. 
The day passed without an outbreak, although one 
was expected. Not so Monday, the 13th. No sooner 

36 



4-2'2 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

had the provost-marshal's office been opened for drawing 
names from the wheel, than a crowd began to gather 
in front, on the sidewalks, and in the street, evidently 
intent on mischief. The wheel had moved but a short 
time, when the attack commenced. Stones, brickbats, 
and missiles of various descriptions, were hurled at 
windows and door ; a rush was made into the room ; the 
draft- wheel seized, and broken to pieces ; the papers 
scattered over the floor ; the officers forcibly ejected 
from the premises ; and the building set on fire. 

News of this high-handed proceeding spread like 
wildfire throughout the city, and produced every- 
where intense excitement. Crowds gathered on the 
corners and in the back streets, composed mainly of 
desperate characters from liquor-saloons, gambling- 
hells, and bawdy-houses ; beardless striplings just enter- 
ing a career of infamy ; and hardened reprobates 
steeped in vice and crime, with here and there a woman, 
from whom every thing womanly seemed to have ut- 
terly departed. Fired witli copious draughts of liquor 
extorted from venders found on every corner, or vol- 
untarily contributed l^y them to save their stocks from 
spoliation, these crowds wandered about without any 
very apparent aim at first, except robbery. But lead- 
ers were at hand, who soon gave direction to their brutal 
energies, and pointed out the work it was desirable 
for them to undertake. They followed, without requir- 
ing particularly explicit instructions ; tearing up rail- 
road tracks in the heart of the city ; sacking and 
burning tlie houses of prominent abolitionists ; hunting 
down and murdering negroes under the most revolting 
circumstances; attacking, plundering, and setting fire 
to the dwellings of the mayor and postmaster ; assail- 



THE NEW- YORK RIOT. 423 

iiig the " Tribune " printing-house ; fighting with the 
police and military, who, after considerable delay 
appeared in the streets ; and finally, crowning the 
ignominy of their proceedings by destroying the Col- 
ored Orphan Asylum, — in which some hundreds of 
children were provided for by private charity, — and 
treating these helpless and friendless young creatures 
with shameful cruelty. 

From the commencement of the riot, clothing, pro- 
visions, liquor, money, and indeed plunder of all sorts, 
seemed the great attractions to the mob. 

On Monday evening, a large number gathered in 
the vicinity of Brooks Brothers clothing establishment, 
on the corner of Catharine and Cherry Streets, broke 
into the store, and helped themselves to every thing 
they could carry away. 

Hearing what was going on, various bodies of profes- 
sional thieves from other cities hurried to New- York as 
soon as possible, to help gather the rich harvest that 
seemed to be awaiting them. Away up in the ave- 
nues close by Harlem, the German tailors lost every 
tiling they had, and were glad to escape with their lives. 
Men covered with rags and dirt would emerge from 
their shops, carrying dozens of articles, such as they 
never thought of wearing or using themselves, merely 
to give away, or to dispose of for such prices as they 
could get. Highway robberies were perpetrated in 
broad daylight, and within a few squares of the police- 
stations, by the dozen. 

Near the corner of Thirty-fourth Street and Second 
Avenue, Col. O'Brien, of the Eleventh New York, in 
attempting to stay the progress of the riot, fired his 
pistol into the crowd, and killed a woman. The act 



424 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

cost him his life. Not only was he shot down, but furi- 
ously set upon by the rum-maddened rioters, and, be- 
fore he was dead, dragged along the sidewalk by a rope 
around his neck. It was in vain for any one to inter- 
cede for the colonel as a wounded man. Not even a 
priest was allov^ed to see him before he died ; the piti- 
less ruffians about suffering no one to come near, but 
firing a pistol-ball into the colonel's body occasionally, 
or hurling a paving-stone or brickbat upon him, as he 
lay insensible, but still breathing. 

The fiendish hatred of the mob towards colored peo- 
ple broke out Monday evening against a negro cart- 
man, who was seized, while near his own home, in 
Carmine Street, and beaten Avith clubs and cudgels till 
he was insensible. A rope was then put round his 
neck, and he was hauled to the sidewalk fronting St. 
John's Cemetery, Clarkson Street, where the rope was 
thrown over a limb of one of the trees ; and, for no 
other cause than that God had given him a dark skin, 
he was brutally put to death. 

As he was hanging in the air, a fire was kindled be- 
neath him, and his murderers amused themselves by 
holding burning wisps of straw, and bundles of rags, 
so that they would ignite portions of his clothing. 
Others discharged guns and pistols at the inanimate 
remains, as they swung from the tree in the darkness 
of the night. 

Shortly afterwards, the Orplian x\.sylum for Colored 
Children was set on fire, and reduced to ashes. The 
premises were first invaded by a heterogeneous rabble of 
women and children, who stole every thing it con- 
tained, even to the night-dresses of the inoffensive occu- 
pants. A flag of truce was for a short time elevated 



DESTRUCTION OF THE ORPHAN ASYLUM. 425 

on the sidewalk outside tlic building ; and the directors 
of the establishment besought tlie crowd to abstain from 
its demolition. But it was all in vain. Three separate 
times it was set on fire, and the flames extinguished 
by Chief-Engineer Decker, at the risk of his own life. 
At last the many proved too powerful for the few : the 
building was fired in so many parts, and the flames 
gained such headway, that all attempts to save it were 
abandoned. It is difficult to believe, but a well attest- 
ed fact, that when the orphaned occupants were taken 
from this institution, several creatures, looking like 
men, gathered about the helpless children, shouting, 

" Murder the monkeys ! " '' Wring the necks of 

the Lincolnites ! " and had it not been for the 

bravery of those who had them in -charge, some must 
inevitably have perished. 

In and about the " Tribune " office, the rioters were 
severely handled. While carrying on their work of 
robbery and destruction, they were charged upon by 
the police, who had been drilled to act as a military 
body. The policemen were all strong, heavy, and 
powerful fellows, accustomed to make quick work 
with rowdies ; and they swept rioters and everybody 
else in the street before them with irresistible impet- 
uosity. 

In less than ten minutes, the thoroughfare, which had 
been covered with human beings, was cleared of all 
but the killed and wounded, and the "Tribune" pro- 
perty saved.- Many a head was broken in that brief 
melee, and many an exultant rioter laid out insensible 
upon the cobble-stones.. 

The most bloody battle of the week took place 
between First and Second Avenues, in the neighbor- 

36* 



4-2G THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS BEGIMENT. 

hood of Twenty-ninth Street. The robbers had gath- 
ered here in force, armed with guns and pistols, and 
were plundering all the stores in tlie vicinity. The 
first force of police and military sent against them 
they had driven back, killing one of the sergeants, and 
barbarously disfiguring his body. The next body, con- 
sisting of seven hundred troops, were too numerous for 
them, and drove every man in-doors, charging upon 
the houses whence fire-arms were discharged, or mis- 
siles thrown, until twenty or more of the rioters had 
been killed or wounded, and thirty-five taken prison- 
ers. This about ended the riots in New York. 

In Boston, on Monday evening, the 13th, an attack 
was made by the mob on the stores of two dealers in 
fire-arms, gunpowder, <fec., in Dock Square, and con- 
siderable spoil obtained ; but the prompt arrival of 
the police and military prevented any further outbreak 
in that vichiity. A large crowd assembled the next 
evening, in front of the Cooper-street Armory, for the 
ostensible purpose of getting at the light guns and 
other weapons deposited there; but, just as they began 
a savage assault, one of the guns heavily loaded with 
canister was discharged through the door into the very 
midst of the mob. Several were instantly killed, and 
a number seriously wounded. The rest dispersed in ^n 
instant ; and that ended the riot in Boston. 

No doubt is now felt, that had Gen. Lee worsted the 
Union army at Gettysburg, these riots in New York 
and Boston might have enlisted so many in their sup- 
port, and prevailed to such an extent, as to compel a 
compromise with the rebels. But, Gen. Lee having 
been defeated at Gettysburg and driven back into 
Virginia, the riotously disposed had less heart for their 



ARRIVAL AT GOVERXOWS ISLAND. 427 

work ill all parts of the country, and were easily 
brought to terms. 

It was now President Lincoln's duty and determina- 
tion to enforce the draft at all hazards. Several regi- 
ments and batteries were accordingly ordered from the 
Army of the Potomac to be stationed near the scenes 
of the late disturbances, to enable local authorities to 
secure the execution of the laws. 

The First Regiment, being one of these, left War- 
ren ton Junction about noon, July 30, and arrived at 
Governor's Island, New- York Harbor, on the afternoon 
of Sunday, Aug. 2, at four o'clock. At the same 
time, other regiments were encamped upon the Battery, 
City-Hall Square, Union Square, and in the forts com- 
manding the harbor, to be at hand in numbers large 
enough to put down any rising, should another be at- 
tempted when the draft was resumed. 

At Governor's Island, the regiment was rejoined by 
Col. McLaughlin, who had been absent on sick-leave 
since the 8th of June. Fourteen days were spent 
upon this island, doing camp and garrison duty, the 
men drilling a certain portion of every day with the 
great guns of Fort Columbus ; when the regiment was 
ordered to report to Brig. -Gen. N. J. Jackson, at that 
time in command of the draft rendezvous on Riker's 
Island, New- York Harbor. 

There were no conscripts to guard on Governor's 
Island. It is a charming spot of land between New York 
and Brooklyn, was the headquarters of Col. Loomis, 
garrisoned by several companies of regulars, the site 
of two of the strongest forts on the coast, and could 
boast the best band of music, and some of the choicest 
society, in the neighborhood. It was left, therefore, 



4-J8 rilE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

witli considerable regret; for Riker's Island, several 
miles above, was a bleak, barren, repulsive-looking 
place, and the duty of guarding conscripts presented 
nothing either desirable or agreeable. 

In due time, the interrupted drafting in New-York 
City and the vicinity was resumed, without the slight- 
est disturbance. Guards were stationed at all the draft- 
ing-offices ; and the military was so disposed in and 
around the city itself, that several thousand could be 
concentrated within a few hours wherever they might 
be needed. The consequence was the peaceful re- 
sumption, continuance, and completion of tlie draft, 
until the quota was full. 

At Riker's Island, where the regiment remained 
sixty days, the duties of the men were very arduous 
and trying. Drafting secured some good men, who 
gave no trouble in camp, served their country well in 
the field, and returned home upright and honorable 
citizens. But 'others were drawn, and large numbers 
bought up by the substitute brokers, who were as cor- 
rupt and unprincipled in their dealings with the Gov- 
ernment as it was possible to be. This class of men 
required constant watching. A boat ran from the 
city up the East River to Riker's Island daily ; and, 
just before it started, the conscripts and substitutes 
were gathered together from the various offices and 
depots in New York and Brooklyn, and marched down 
to the boat under a strong escort. The soldiers of the 
escort always had their guns loaded, and were under 
orders to fire upon any drafted man, or substitute, who 
stepped out of the ranks and refused to return. Not- 
withsLanding the utmost vigilance, many escaped, disap- 
pearhig in the most unaccountable manner under the 



CONSCRIPTS AND SUBSTITUTES. 429 

very eyes of their guards. Oil board the boat, they 
would slip overboard, or unexpectedly appear in a suit 
of citizen's clothing, provided for the occasion, and 
make off unchallenged. At the Island, every species 
of ruse, trick, and deception, wfis adopted to escape 
the vigilance of the sentinels ; and frequently large 
sums of money were offered to tlie men on guard to 
induce them to turn their backs at night, and allow 
one or more to make off in the darkness. The con- 
scripts and substitutes were kept in a camp by them- 
selves, regularly laid out, and divided into streets, to 
which they had given various peculiar and signihcant 
names. Their friends were allowed to come and see 
them by obtaining a pass from Gen. Canby, then in 
command of the defences of New-York Harbor ; and 
many of them injudiciously brought bottles of strong 
drink with them, which caused, until the practice was 
stopped, no little trouble to the officers and soldiers of 
the guard. 

An immense amount of gambling was carried on 
among tlie drafted men, who usually liad large sums 
of money about tliem ; and frequently robberies were 
perpetrated among them to the extent of hundreds of 
dollars from one individual. As discipline was indis- 
pensable, the worst characters among them frequently 
brought severe punishment upon themselves by their 
utter defiance of all the rules and regulations of war. 
They were confined in the guard-house, compelled to 
police the camp under a guard, or had a ball and chain 
attached to their ankles, which they wore until willing 
to conform to the salutary regulations of the rendez- 
vous. The subsistence furnished by the post-commis- 
sary was substantial, nutritious, and abundant ; while 



430 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

the quarters were simple A tents, of good quality, con- 
taining ample accommodations for three men each. 

There were a large number of commissioned and 
non-commissioned officers attached to the rendezvous, 
who had special chaf'ge of the conscripts and substi- 
tutes, and accompanied the boats that carried them 
weekly, in companies or battalions, to Alexandria, Va., 
where they were disembarked, and forwarded by rail 
to Gen. Meade's army on the Rapidan. Some were 
sent to other departments ; but the bulk were enrolled 
among the Union troops in Virginia. 

The presence of such a large body of men afforded 
a rich field for missionary operations on the island, 
which were carried on as largely as possible by the 
agents of the Bible Society, the Tract Society, and the 
Christian Commission. All the men who would take 
them were supplied with Testaments and tracts previ- 
ous to their departure for the seat of war ; some of 
which, doubtless, were retained during subsequent cam- 
paigns, and did great good to the readers. Weekly 
religious newspapers were likewise distributed in large 
numbers, and services held in the open air every Sun- 
day, when the weather would permit. 

Two days in the week were called " visiting-days ; " 
and, on those occasions, the friends and acquaint- 
ances of the soldiers came from the city in large 
numbers, to spend a few hours in their society. An 
intimation had been given, that the First Regiment, 
being so near Massachusetts, would be allowed to go 
home as a body, and pass a few days among friends ; 
but the pressure of duties on Riker's Island was so 
great, that this was found to be impossible, and very 
many of the friends came to the island instead. Sev- 



DISTINGUISHED VISITOBS. 431 

era! officers and soldiers had their wives, motliers, and 
other friends with them for some time ; and the ladies 
became speedily inured to the hardships of camp-life, 
and bore them quite as well as did the sterner sex. 
Several distinguished gentlemen visited the place dur- 
ing the month of September, among whom were Gens. 
Sickles, Canby, and Dix ; Gov. John A. Andrew, of 
Massachusetts ; and Mayor Frederick W. Lincoln, jun., 
of Boston. 

The latter gentleman came, in company witli a dele- 
gation from the Boston Board of Aldermen and City 
Council, to present the regiment a handsome banner 
of blue silk, which had been procured for the purpose. 
It was artistically painted by Savory ; having on one 
side the State coat-of-arms, with suitable inscrii)tions, 
and on the other the seal of the city of Boston, around 
which clustered the names of all the battles in which 
the Massachusetts First had been distinguislied during 
the war. His Honor Mayor Lincohi made a patriotic 
speech of presentation, which was suitably responded 
to by Col. McLaughlin in behalf of the regiment, after 
which a dress-parade was held, and the principal 
guests of the day, with the field, staff, and line officers 
of the regiment, resorted to the dining-hall of Col. 
McLaughlin's field and staff, and partook of a bounti- 
ful collation. 

Among those present on tliis occasion was Col. 
Frank Howe, Superintendent of tlie New-England Sol- 
diers' Relief Association, of New York, one of the most 
useful and praiseworthy institutions of the day. At 
the commodious rooms of the association, 197 Broad- 
way, thousands of soldiers were received, cared for, 
fed., clothed, nursed when sick or wo.unded, and prop- 



432 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMEXT. 

erly prepared for burial if they died. A large com- 
mittee of New-York ladies served gratuitously iu the 
several departments ; and the contributions of the 
benevolent kept larder and clothes-press well tilled. 
Divine services were provided on Sunday for such as 
were unable to go out of the building ; preachers and 
singers alike contributing their gifts for the common 
good. In fact, the establishment was a genuine home 
for any tired, sick, wounded, friendless, or penniless 
soldier who happened to be in New York, where he 
was sure of a welcome, of rest and shelter, of food for 
the body and mind, of clothing such as he needed, and 
of something hi his pocket when he started for home 
on furlough, or for tlie army at his furlough's expira- 
tion. 

Notwithstanding the double duties required of the 
regiment on Riker's Island, their numbers here were 
considerably diminished, and their labors increased, 
by tlie departure on the 19th of September of Compa- 
nies A, B, and G, under command of Lieut.-Col. Bald- 
win, to David's Island, at the entrance of Long-Island 
Sound, to guard rebels who had been wounded in bat- 
tle, and were brought there, prisoners of war, for med- 
ical and surgical treatment. The buildings and other 
accessories of this place were vastly superior to tliose 
upon Biker's Island ; and it was with regret that Com- 
pany A, being relieved on the 26th of September, and 
Companies B and G on the 6th of October following, 
left, by command of Gen. Canby, and reported for duty 
at the latter place again. 

At tlie completion of the New- York draft, all the 
regiments and batteries detached from the Army of the 
Potomac for special service in and around the city. 



DEPARTURE FOR WASHINGTON. 433 

were relieved from duty by Gen. Dix, and ordered to 
report to Gen. Halleck, at Washington. Detacliments 
of regulars were sent to occupy their places, where 
troops were still needed ; and elsewhere camps were 
broken up altogether, and matters restored to their for- 
mer condition. Thursday afternoon, Oct. 15, the First 
Regiment embarked on board the steamer " John Ro- 
mer," for Jersey City, where a train of cars was in 
waiting to convey them to Washington. 

37 




CHAPTER XVIII. 
Kelly's ford, locust grove, and brandy station. 

" Watchman, what of the night? 
Are there signs in the east that augur tlie day? 
Or still doth the blackness of darkness there lay? 
We list to the trumpings that herald the storm, 
To the roll of the drum, and the order to form. • 

Form, form, infantry form ! 
Close up ! is the word ; and prepare for the charge ! 
Close up ! is the shout on the hill, by the marge; 
Close up, where they fall ! and forward again 
Where the lightnings shall flash, and descend the hot rain." 

Anon. 

THE main body of Gen. Lee's forces had been 
encamped near Orange Court House during the 
months of August and September, while the troops of 
Gen. Meade held Culpepper Court House and vicinity. 
Both parties had remained inactive until Gen. Hooker's 
departure for the reenforcement of Gen. Rosecrans, in 
Tennessee ; when Gen. Lee, having ascertained that he 
had taken with him two corps from the Army of the 
Potomac, began to manoeuvre his troops so as to gain 
some advantage over Gen. Meade's diminished forces. 
Keeping up a show of numbers in front of the Union 
lines, several rebel divisions were put in motion with 
a view of turning the Federal left. Penetrating this 
design, before it could be carried into execution, Gen. 
Meade evacuated Culpepper Court House on Saturday, 
the 10th, and began to fall back upon Centreville. At 




THE PKAD ?OLDIKR T\ LOCFPT OnOYE. 



I 



REBEL ADVAX' E-GVAED BEPULSED. 435 

some points, the enemy had anticipated him ; but as 
he moved by direct parallel roads bordering the rail- 
road, while Gen. Lee's columns were forced to follow 
circuitous and little -travelled pathways through the 
woods, he thereby gained important advantages of 
position daily, which enabled him to avoid the en- 
gagement the rebels were trying to force upon him, 
until he reached the intrenchments on Centre ville 
Heights. Frequent skirmishes took place between the 
cavahy of both parties, resulting in success first for 
one side and then for the other. 

On the 14th of October, the second corps, under 
Geu. TTarren, constituting Gen. Meade's rear-guard, 
was suddenly attacked by the rebel advance, under A. 
P. Hill. It was an extremely premauire and ill-ad- 
vised movement for the ivbel general, and resulted dis- 
astrously to his men. Gen. Warren arranged his corps 
to contest the rebel advance, so that a large body were 
hidden behind a railroad embankment. Xo sooner had 
the enemy reached this, thinking all clear on the other 
side, than they were greeted with a well-directed fire, 
which brought them to a stand. A fierce conflict 
immediately ensued, lasting until night : when the 
enemy were driven at all points, losing five guns, a 
large number of killed and wounded, and four hundred 
and fifty of their number made prisoners. Tlie Union 
loss was fifty-one killed, and ihi-ee hundred and fifty- 
nine wounded. Not caring to repeat such a costly ex- 
periment. Gen. Hill fell l>ack, leaving the second corps 
in possession of the field : and on the next morning 
Gen. Warren quietly crossed Broad Run, and came up 
with the bulk of Gen. Meade's forces, occupying a for- 
ified position l>eyoud Bull Run. 



436 rilE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Here the First Regiment found them, on the after- 
noon of the ITtli of October, quietly encamped at 
Union Mills and vicinity ; and upon reporting for or- 
ders to Gen. French, then in command of the third 
corps, it was straightway assigned to its former place 
in the first brigade and second division. 

It was impossible for Gen. Lee to part with any con- 
siderable number of his troops, at this time, without 
being seriously embarrassed during the winter ; there- 
fore, upon learning of the disaster which had befallen 
A. P. Hill's corps, he gave up his attempt to flank the 
Union forces, and fell back to the line of the Rappa- 
liannock. He was closely followed by the Union col- 
umns, who, in turn, became pursuers. 

The first brigade started, on the morning of Monday, 
Oct. 19, for Broad Run, where it arrived at noon, and 
went into bivouac. Considerable artillery firing had 
been heard during the day, caused principally by ren- 
counters" between our own and the enemy's cavalry. 
From Oct. 20 to Nov. 7, gradual advances were made 
upon the enemy's position, by the way of Greenwich, 
Catlett's Station, Bealton, and Warrenton Junction, 
until the old camping-ground between the Rapidan and 
Rappahannock was again within our grasp. 

Every day had its movements, conducted with great 
caution, secrecy, and strategetic skill, to baffle the de- 
signs of the enemy, and, at the same time, secure advan- 
tages to the Union arms. Knowing the importance of 
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad to any portion 
of the army encamped in its vicinity, the rebels had 
utterly destroyed it, as they fell back towards the Rap- 
idan, burning bridges, blowing up culverts, demolishing 
water-tanks and depots, tearing up the track, and ren- 



I 



PROMOTIONS. 437 

dering rails useless by laying tliem across piles of 
burning sleepers. This did not prevent the immediate 
rebuilding of the road by Union soldiers, however, who 
followed closely after, with sleepers cut from the neigh- 
boring forests, and new rails brought up from Alexan- 
dria. Guerillas sometimes interfered with the work- 
ing parties, or made a dasli upon the stock-in-trade of 
some unfortunate sutler, as it passed towards the front ; 
but no other hinderances were encountered, and the 
work of reconstruction went on almost as fast as the 
work of demolition had been accomplished. 

Soon after the death of Assistant Surgeon Gunn, Dr. 
Isaiah L. Pickard was appointed in his stead, who 
joined the regiment at Boonsboro', after the battle of 
Gettysburg, and continued with it until the men were 
mustered out of service, at the end of their three-years' 
term of enlistment. He was then appointed surgeon 
in one of the AYestcrn colored regiments, with which 
he continued during the whole of Gen. Grant's siege of 
Richmond and Petersburg, and finally went to Texas, 
under Gen. Sheridan, and died there, of intermittent- 
fever, on the 20th of July, 1865. Dr. Pickard was 
much esteemed by the officers and men with whom he 
was associated, and proved himself in every respect a 
meritorious officer. 

On the 31st of July, 1863, Assistant Surgeon T. 
Fletcher Cakes, having been promoted surgeon of the 
Fifty-sixth Massachusetts Veteran Regiment, took leave 
of the First ; and Dr. John B. Garvie, of Boston, was 
assigned to the vacant place. Dr. Garvie came to the 
regiment at Riker's Island, remained about six weeks, 
when he was taken sick, and, after an absence of 
twenty days, compelled to resign his position. 

37* 



4:j8 niE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

First Lieut. John S. Clark was commissioned captain 
on the 22d of September, 1863, and soon after placed 
in Command of Company E. 

Gen. Lee supposed himself so secure in tlic line he had 
taken, in October, that, by the first week in November, 
most of his troops had constructed comfortable log-huts, 
and gone into them for winter-quarters. In Southern 
fashion, they had " reckoned " that the Army of tlie 
Potomac would not disturb them again before spring. 
At Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock, the enemy had 
built several redoubts, connected by a strong row of 
rifle-pits, which were held in force by a detachment 
stationed there for this purpose. 

The third and sixth corps got possession of a hill 
commanding these redoubts on the afternoon of Nov. 
7 ; and, while the batteries were hotly engaged, several 
regiments waded the river, stor;ned the breastworks, 
in face of a furious fire from the sharp-shooters, and 
captured nearly a thousand prisoners. Bridges were 
constructed immediately, across which the two coi'ps 
moved upon other portions of the enemy's intrench- 
ments, seeming to take them everywhere by surprise, 
and forcing them out of tlicir comfortable winter-quar- 
ters into the woods south of the llapidan, witli a loss 
of all their redoubts, four guns, eight battle-flags, over 
one hundred killed and wounded, and nearly two 
tliousand prisoners. The Union loss was three hun- 
dred and seventy killed and wounded ; the disparity 
being occasioned by the exposure of the storming-par- 
ties, as they crossed the river and climbed the l)ank on 
the opposite side, under fire from the enemy's field- 
works and rifle-pits. 

The capture of Kelly's Ford caused an immediate 



ADVANCE OF THE FEDERAL ARMY. 439 

abandonment by tlie enemy of all their works on tlie 
Rappahannock, and the retreat of their troops to the 
south side of the Rapidan. The Union army pushed 
forward as they fell back ; and Gen. Meade established 
his headquarters at Brandy Station on the morning of 
Nov. 11, holding a line several miles in length, extend- 
ing from Culpepper Court House on the right, to the 
vicinity of Jacob's Mills on the left. 

A plan was devised shortly after by Gen. Meade, of 
crossing the Rapidan at several fords ; interposing a 
strong force between the right and left wings of Gen. 
Lee's army ; engaging them, if possible, separately; and 
crushing one after the other. It was a promising 
scheme, if well and promptly carried out. 

The movement was to have commenced on the 20th 
of November; but hard rains, which set in at that time, 
delayed its execution for a few days, so that the troops 
did not move until the 26th of the same month. Early 
in the morning of that day, a start was made towards 
the Rapidan ; and, notwithstanding the miry condition 
of the roads, the river was reached a little after noon. 
The Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Regiment was detailed 
for skirmish duty, and crossed the river by wading ; 
driving before them upon the opposite bank a few 
mounted pickets who disputed their passage, and hold- 
ing the top while the pontoniers proceeded to construct 
a bridge for the rest of the corps. It was finished be- 
fore dark, and immediately made use of. An advance 
of two miles was made in the direction of the enemy 
before their pickets were encountered ; when the corps 
came to a halt, and went into bivouac for the night. 
Friday morning, Nov. 27, the men were called up with- 
out the sound of drum or bugle, and formed in line 



440 THE FIPiST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

of battle, expecting the enemy. It was ascertained 
shortly afterwards tliat the wrong road had been taken 
on the previous day, owing to carelessness or negli- 
gence on the part of some one, and every step must 
be retraced. After this had been done, another road 
was taken, and followed under the direction of a negro 
guide, until the pickets of the enemy were reached. 
Company D at once advanced through the w^oods, in 
line, as skirmishers, under command of Capt. E. W. 
Stone, jr., and succeeded in forcing back the rebel ad- 
vance upon their first line of battle. The Union sol- 
diers pushed forward after them, till they came in sight 
of a road, along which the rebel baggage -wagons and 
ambulances were being driven at a rapid rate, when 
they met with a firm resistance from the enemy in 
front, and came to a halt for orders. 

As Gen. Meade wished to avoid a general engage- 
ment at this point, while he carried on certain impor- 
tant movements elsewhere, nothing but skirmishing 
took place from noon until four o'clock in the after- 
noon. The woods where the rebels lay concealed were 
very thick, hiding them entirely from observation ; and 
the only disposition they at first manifested was to 
act wholly on tlie defensive. Having Ijeen reenforced 
in course of the day, however, they became, in turn^ 
tlie assailants, and attempted to flank certain portions 
of the corps by breaking in between unconnected regi- 
ments or brigades. The manoeuvre had been foreseen, 
and was provided against. Sections of artillery were 
stationed in the roads and open spaces, which swept 
in every direction the ground over which they must 
advance. The First Regiment had by this time been 
relieved from duty on the skirmisli-line by the Elev- 



I 



CASUALTIES. 441 

enth New Jersey and Fifth Excelsior Regiments, and 
was stationed in reserve as support for Battery K, 
Fourth United-States Artillery, and a section of Clark's 
New-Jersey Battery. 

The rebels came on in their usual manner, with yells 
and furious volleys, endeavoring to intimidate the 
brave fellows who had been drawn up against them. 
Finding this could not be done, they pressed down 
upon OTir line in overwhelming numbers, gaining, just 
before dark, a temporary advantage. Re enforcements 
arrived for the Federal troops at this juncture; and tlic 
advance of the enemy was checked. Just as the sun 
was setting, volleys of musketry from both sides were 
very rapid, interspersed with a considerable number of 
shells from the artillery. Very little damage was, 
however, inflicted upon either party, inasmucli as the 
dense character of the forest, with the obscurity of ap- 
proaching night prevented any one from taking aim. 
Soon after dark, the firing ceased on both sides ; and 
during the night the enemy fell back to a high ridge 
beyond Mine Run. 

The battle of the 27th had been fought almost 
entirely by the third corps in a wood called Locust 
Grove ; and, althougli we lost a large number killed 
and wounded, several hundred prisoners were captured 
from the enemy, and his lines forced back beyond the 
plank-road leading to Orange Court House. 

The losses in the First Regiment were as follows, 
viz. : — 

Killed : William C. Hull, Company C. 

Wounded : Corporal William A. West, Company 
B, arm and side ; George M. Glover, Company C, slight 
flesh-wound ; Joseph A. Richardson, Company F, 



442 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

trifling ; Eli Veazie, Company H, hand and arm, se- 
vere ; Thomas O'Brien, Company I, head, not dan- 
gerous ; Corporal William Evans, Company K, arm, 
slight ; Robert Goode, Company K, insignificant ; 
Thomas Parkinson, Company K, slight. 

On the morning of the 28th, the march was re- 
sumed, and continued in a drenching rain beyond a 
place called Robinson's Tavern. The enemy had here 
opposed a brief resistance, but were driven back with 
loss by the second corps. 

Connection was formed the next day with Gen. 
Warren on the left, and under his direction prepara- 
tions made to storm the enemy's intrenchments. Not 
only his own corps, but several divisions from other 
corps, had been placed at his disposal, which were to 
•assault the rebel position in front ; while Gen. Meade, 
with the remainder of the army, attacked them on the 
flank. The assault was to be made at daylight on the 
oOth. Few men slept much that niglit. Visions of 
home and remembrances of Fredericksburg flitted 
through the mind. The rebel position was remarka- 
bly strong, and all its approaches were covered with 
artillery ; so that the old soldiers knew it could not be 
taken without a great sacrifice of life. All niglit long 
fatigue-parties were at work, strengthening what was 
already impregnable ; and they whom the intense cold 
prevented from sleeping, heard their picks and shovels 
ring against the stones and clods they struck in course 
of their labors. The morning dawned raw and misty ; 
and with the first streak of light our batteries began 
to play upon the left -and centre of the enemy's works. 
During the bombardment. Gen. Warren made a final 
reconnoissance to ascertain the best place for an as- 



RETROGRADE MOVEMENT. 443 

sault, but was so impressed with the formidable na- 
ture of the lines to be carried, tlie frightful cost of life 
and limb their capture must occasion, and the uncer- 
tainty of holding them, even providing they were taken, 
that he humanely concluded not to risk the attempt. 
For this he was severely censured in certain quarters ; 
never by the soldiers who were on the ground. Tliey 
were all ready to charge the works, had the order been 
given, but were perfectly assured that hundreds, if not 
tliousands, of lives must have been sacrificed, without 
obtaining any advantage commensurate with so costly 
an expenditure. 

The rebels kept busily at work all day, strengthen- 
ing their intrenchments, replying only now and then 
to the artillery shots which were sent among them from 
the Union batteries. At dark, our forces began gradu- 
ally to fall back. A portion of Gen. Gregg's cavalry 
had been surprised, on the previous day, in vicinity 
of Parker's Store ; and the First Regiment was detached 
from the brigade, and sent to his support. The com- 
panies went into bivouac close by the road, remaining 
undisturbed till morning, when they followed as rear- 
guard of the division, to the Rapidan. The enemy 
pursued slowly with cavalry, but did not reach the re- 
treating columns until the troops had crossed the river, 
and appeared drawn up ready for action on the other 
side. The First crossed at Culpepper-Mine Ford on a 
pontoon-bridge, and then proceeded down the left bank 
of the river to a point opposite Ely's Ford, where the 
cavalry of the enemy were seen drawn up along the 
edge of the woods. These were prevented from cross- 
ing by a few well-directed shells exploded above their 
heads, which drove them back into the woods. 



444 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

The troops were now entirely out of rations and 
forage ; and great complaint w^as made against the 
commissary department for inattention or neglect. 
Some of the soldiers had not so much as one cracker 
in their haversacks ; and most of the officers obtained 
forage for their horses by forced levies upon the corn- 
cribs of the neighborhood. By great exertions, one 
day's subsistence was obtained ; and, early in the morn- 
ing of Dec. 3, the march was resumed towards Brandy 
Station. The old camping-ground was reached at three 
in the afternoon ; and the men at once began in earn- 
est to prepare for winter-quarters. 

For several days in succession, the rebels crossed the 
Rapidan at some of the fords, and made cavalry or 
artillery assaults upon our lines ; but in every instance 
they were driven back so promptly, that they soon 
abandoned these excursions, and both armies gave 
themselves up to observation and repose. The Union 
camps resounded with the strokes of axes ; with the 
sound of trowel and pick ; of spade, hammer, and saw. 
Trees fell by thousands daily ; and substantial cabins, 
well plastered with mud, and covered with shelter- 
tents, appeared in regular lines hi all the camps. The 
rations were greatly improved about this time, owing, 
no doubt, to the result of a court-martial in Washing- 
ton, which had sent a defrauding coffee-contractor to' 
prison for five years. 

In the month of December, an important raid was 
made by Gen. Averill into the enemy's lines, wliich 
resulted in the destruction of valuable supplies and 
material, costing, in the aggregate, millions of dollars. 
At Salem, on the IGtli, three depots were destroyed, con- 
taining two thousand barrels of flour, ten thousand bush- 



CAMP-LIFE AT BRANDY STATION. 445 

els of wheat, one hundred thousand bushels of shelled 
corn, fifty thousand bushels of oats, two tliousand bar- 
rels of meat, several cords of leather, one thousand 
sacks of salt, thirty-one boxes of clothing, twenty bales 
of cotton, one hundred wagons, and a large quantity 
of saddles, harnesses, shoes, equipments, tools, oil, and 
tar. In other places, bridges, cars, lumber, and cul- 
verts were destroyed, and the railroad track torn up 
for miles. All this was accomplished with a loss of 
only six men drowned, four wounded, and ninety miss- 
ing. All the rebel cavalry, and several brigades of in- 
fantry, formed across the roads in the rear of Gen. 
Averill to intercept his return ; but he managed to 
elude their vigilance, at the same time capturing from 
them two hundred prisoners and one hundred and fifty 
horses. 

Camp-life at Brandy Station was similar to camp- 
life everywhere else. Tlie winter was unusually dry 
and very cold. Whenever it was possible, drills were 
had in the open air ; and dress-parades closed every day 
if the weather was not too inclement. Furloughs and 
leaves of absence were granted on the same basis pre- 
viously established by Gen. Hooker, of which many 
of the officers and men availed themselves. Christ- 
mas-boxes were brought to the soldiers in large num- 
bers Dec. 25, owing to some new arrangement made 
between the Provost-Marshal General and the Adams 
Express Company ; and hundreds of soldiers were re- 
galed that day on quantities of home viands forward- 
ed for their consumption. 

At this station, the Christian and Sanitary Commis- 
sions did noble service for tlie Union army, saving 
undoubtedly by their timely ministrations many a val- 

38 



446 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT, 

liable life, and making the soldiers realize that the 
whole country was interested in their welfare, and 
willing to contribute liberally to promote it. What- 
ever was needed in the way of reading-matter, delica- 
cies for the sick, clothing, blankets, comforters, &c., 
could always be obtained of the Sanitary Commission, 
upon a requisition from any surgeon in the army ; and 
the Christian Commission, besides supplying these 
things, together with many thousand copies of the 
principal religious papers of the day, procured and 
loaned large chapel-tents, capable of accommodating 
two or three hundred persons, to such regiments and 
brigades as wished them, sending delegates to preach 
where there were no chaplains, by whom large num- 
bers of believers were strengthened, encouraged, and 
comforted, hundreds of sinners led to see the error of 
their ways, the intemperate and profligate in part re- 
claimed, profanity, dishonesty, gambling, demoraliza- 
tion arretted, and the word of God put into every 
soldier's hands that would receive it. 

During January, 1865, a large number of troops, 
amounting in some instances to whole companies and 
regiments, having reenlisted for three years, or during 
the war, were allowed the thirty-days' furlough prom- 
ised to all such reenlistcd men by the authorities at 
Washington ; and went home to enjoy it. In a majority 
of cases, these soldiers received large bounties from 
town, State, and national treasuries, with permission to 
include what remained of their former term of service 
in the new term. 

During the winter. Col. McLaughlin was tried by 
court-martial, on several frivolous charges brought 
against him by the division commander, and triumph- 



HON. JOHN MINOR BOTTS. 447 

antly acquitted on them all ; the court declaring that 
there had been no occasion for his arrest, and that it 
was to be regretted that one officer sliould care so little 
for the reputation and happiness of a brother-officer, 
as to subject him to such a needless and annoying 
experience. 

Culpepper and Stevensburg, both within our lines 
at this time, were frequently visited, and to the North- 
erner presented a forlorn and dreary appearance. The 
former had been a place of considerable importance, 
containing five or six hundred inhabitants, most of 
whom had turned out rabid secessionists, and left 
the vicinity ; so that the old town gradually went to 
decay, and presented a pitiable picture of general 
prostration, neglect, and uncleanliness. Stevensburg 
was only four miles distant, and had but half a dozen 
bleak-looking houses, fenceless and forsaken, inhabited 
mainly by contrabands. 

Close by the camp of the First was the residence of 
Hon. John Minor Botts. He was on good terms with 
the Union soldiers, and frequently invited their officers 
to his house. In tlie expression of his opinions, he was 
fearless and outspoken, and from the beginning to the 
end maintained that the Federal arms would prevail. 

A movement was made on the afternoon of Satur- 
day, Feb. 6, in support of a reconnoissance in force, 
which called the entire division out towards the Rap- 
idan. One night, and a considerable portion of the next 
day, was spent in the vicinity of one of the fords ; but 
none of the enemy's forces were encountered, and the 
division returned. Most of the second corps crossed 
the river a little lower down, not waiting for the pon- 
toon train, but plunging into the ice-cold stream, and 



448 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

wading across under fire. They lost nearly two hun- 
dred killed, wounded, and prisoners, but drove the 
enemy out of their rifle-pits, captured fifty men, and 
remained on the south bank of the Rapidan until the 
object of the reconnoissance was fully accomplished. 

The camp at Brandy Station was close by the rail- 
road depot, convenient of access, and quite a resort for 
friends from abroad. Liberal provision was made 
for amusements during the winter ; and several halls 
and rows of hospital tents were fitted up for balls, 
dances, and lectures or concerts. 

On the 21st of February, a delegation from Boston 
visited the regiment, composed of Hon. Frederick W. 
Lincoln, jun., the mayor, Ex-Gov. Washburne, Alder- 
man Otis Norcross, John P. Healy Esq., city solicitor, 
and Messrs. Warren and Wells of the council. They 
staid but one night, making that very pleasant, how- 
ever, by their patriotic speeches to the soldiers. 

On tlie 27th of February, a raid of great magnitude 
was attempted upon the commvmications of the enemy 
near Richmond. The sixth, and a portion of the third 
corps, moved to Madison Court House and the heights 
along Robertson's River ; while the cavalry under Gens. 
Custar and Kilpatrick pushed round to the rear of the 
rebel army, destroying bridges, stores, factories, and 
military property, penetrating as far as the farm of J-. 
A. Seddon, the rebel secretary of war, only a few miles 
from Richmond itself. Here the ignorance or treach- 
ery of a negro guide misled the detachment under 
command of Col. Dahlgren, so that it was unable to 
join Gen. Kilpatrick, as previously agreed, at Ashland, 
to unite in an attack on Richmond, where, at that 
time, there were very few troops ; and the grand object 



GEN. ULYSSES S. GRANT. 449 

of the raid was defeated. A large amount of property 
was destroyed belonging to the enemy, the utmost con- 
sternation created throughout the city, and important 
captures made. 

The Union loss was one hundred and fifty killed, 
wounded, and prisoners, including tlie lamented Col. 
Ulric Dahlgren. 

On the 29th of February, an act of Congress was 
passed reviving the grade of lieutenant-general ; and 
President Lincoln iminediately sent the name of Gen. 
Ulysses S. Grant to the Senate for confirmation in this 
office. On the 3d of March, his appointment was con- 
firmed, and he was made principal officer, or general- 
in-chief of all the land forces in the United States. 

He accepted the appointment, and immediately 
transferred his headquarters from the west to the east, 
choosing the Army of the Potomac as the particular 
body of troops with which from that day his fortunes 
were to be identified. On the 19th of March, he left 
Nashville, and proceeded, without delay and without 
parade, to Culpepper, where he began to make prepara- 
tions for another advance upon Richmond. The Army 
of the Potomac was immediately reorganized through- 
out. The first and third corps were broken up, and their 
divisions, brigades, and regiments distributed among 
the second, fifth, and sixth corps ; these latter to be 
three grand corps of the Army of the Potomac, com- 
manded respectively by Gens. Hancock, Warren, and 
Sedgwick. They consisted of thirty thousand men 
each, infantry, cavalry, and artillery, under the general 
command of some one field-officer like Gen. Meade or 
Gen. Smith, who received orders from Gen. Grant in 
person, with certain discretionary limitations ; and, 

38* 



450 rilE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS HEGIMEJSTT. 

Other things being equal, the responsibility of failure 
or success rested solely with the conqueror of Vicks- 
burg. 

The third corps having been broken up, the second 
division became the fourth division of the second corps ; 
the third division going into the sixth corps, and the 
first becoming tlie third of the second corps. The 
first brigade remained intact, parting with the Eleventh 
Massachusetts and Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania, and 
receiving the whole of wliat had been called the 
third, or Jersey, brigade, consisting of the Fifth, Sixth, 
Seventh, and Eighth New-Jersey, and the One Hundred 
and Fifteenth Pennsylvania Regiments. This gave us 
as brigade commander, Gen. Motte, and sent Col. Blais- 
dell into the second, or Excelsior brigade, commanded 
by Col. Brewster of the first Excelsior. Gen. Prince 
passed into the sixth corps, and Gen. French was 
relieved, and sent to Philadelphia. 

It seems hardly proper that so important an organ- 
ization as that of tlie third corps should pass out of 
existence without a reference to its heroic deeds, and 
the mention, at least, of some among its brave and 
accomplished officers. On the 20th of March, it had 
twenty thousand infantry besides artillery. It was one 
of the original corps (Tarmee organized before the 
Peninsular campaign in March, 1862, and was then 
composed of Heintzelman's, Porter's, and Hooker's 
divisions. After Heintzelman was appointed com- 
mander of the corps. Gen. Hamilton took command of 
his division. At tliat time, there were the follow- 
ing general officers in the third corps, — Hamilton, 
Hooker, and Porter commanding first, second, and 
third divisions respectively. In the first division, 



THE THIRD CORPS. 451 

Jameson and Birney commanded brigades ; and in the 
second division were Sickles, Grover, and Patterson. 
Morrell, Butterfield, and Martindale had brigades in 
the third division. 

During the siege of Yorktown,it became important 
to make certain changes in the organization of the 
corps ; and the third division was detached, and formed 
the nucleus of the fifth corps, under Gen. F. J. Porter. 
About the same time, Hamilton was relieved from com- 
mand of the first division, and Gen. Kearney assigned 
to the vacant position. There were now but two divi- 
sions in the corps, and they could not be excelled in 
the Army of the Potomac. Kearney and Hooker 
were then the chieftains of the third corps. Heintzel- 
man retained chief command during all these division 
mutations. He fought his corps bravely and heroically 
through the Peninsular campaign, until after the sec- 
ond battle of Bull Run and Chantilly, when the indom- 
itable Kearney was slain. 

In September, 1862, these two divisions, that had 
fought side by side through that terrible campaign on 
the banks of the Chickahominy, were separated for 
almost two months. About the middle of November, 
Gen. Stoneman, as senior officer, assumed command ol 
the corps, which position he retained until February, 
1863, when he was placed in command of the cavalry. 
The President at the same time appointed Gen. Daniel 
E. Sickles as corps commander. 

For commanders, the first division hadHeintzelman, 
Hamilton, Kearney, Stoneman, and Birney; second 
division. Hooker, Sickles, Berry, Humphreys, and 
Prince. Jameson, Robinson, Graliam, and Collis had 
commanded the first brigade of the division. The 



452 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

second brigade had had such officers as Sedgwick, Bir- 
ney, and Ward. 

This corps educated generals, and gave to eminence 
such names as the following : Major-Gens. Heintzel- 
man, Hamilton, Sedgwick, Sickles, Stoneman, Birney, 
Kearney, Hooker, Richardson, Berry, Howard, and 
Whipple. 

From May 5, 1862, till Nov. 27, 1863, the corps was 
in twenty different engagements, including Seven 
Pines, Williamsburg, The Orchards, Fair Oaks, Glen- 
dale, White-oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Bull Run, Ma- 
nassas, Bristow Station, Chantilly, Chancellorsville*, 
Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Kelly's Ford, and Locust 
Grove. The history of the third corps should be con- 
solidated among the annals of the war. The divisions, 
brigades, and regiments of the corps were thenceforth 
scattered among other commands ; but their gallant 
achievements, from the time of organization, in March, 
1862, till their consolidation with other corps, in March, 
1864, will never be forgotten. 

The transferred divisions preserved the same badges 
and distinctive marks wliich they had worn previous to 
the reorganization ; so that the fourth division of the 
second corps was still known as Hooker's old division, 
and the members still wore the white lozenge-, or dia- 
mond, on their caps, which distinguished them from all 
the other divisions hi the Army of the Potomac. 




CAVALRY (^IIARGK NEAR SPOTTSYLVANTA COlRT-HOl SK 



■ ^^'-y^^. 



^"^^i^ 




CHAPTER XIX. 

BATTLES OP THE WILDERNESS AND SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT 
HOUSE. 

" All day long the battle raged, 
With clang of guns and bugles' breath, 
In the tangled swamps of the Wilderness, 
Through dusky thickets dim with death. 
All day the fierce tide surged aud swung 
With crash and shriek and cannon's tone, 
While, far along the glimmering lines. 
Proudly our golden eagles shone." — Anon. 



" Now for the fight, now for the cannon-peal! 
Forward ! through blood and toil and cloud and fire ! 
Glorious the shout, the shock, the crash of steel. 
The volley's roll, the rocket's blasting spire: 
They shake, like broken waves their squares retire — 

In thunder on them wheel ! " — Korner. 

DURING the moiitlis of March and April, as the 
weather became pleasant, and the ground dry 
and hard, various amusements were introduced among 
the soldiers ; such as foot and base-ball playing, gym- 
nastic exercises with the cross-bar and swing, leaping, 
running, and quoits. The regimental chapel was like- 
wise open every evening for prayer and conference 
meetings, for singing and spelling schools, and for other 
exercises designed to elevate the moral tone of the 
regiment. These meetings were always well attended, 
and sometimes crowded. Not only did a considerable 
number become personally interested in religion, but 



454 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

successful efforts were made, by the circulation of 
pledges, and otlierwise, to induce a large number to 
give up strong drink and to abstain from profanity. 

The members of the regiment anticipated their re- 
turn home by preparing to appear as well on their 
arrival as when they came out. So much to their 
credit may and ought to be said, that, after being 
exposed to the demoralizing influences of war for three 
full years, they returned to the avocations of peape as 
quietly and hidustriously as any among our citizens. 

Gen. Grant had no sooner reorganized than he be- 
gan to review and inspect the Army of the Potomac. 
He was constantly at work in Culpepper with his staff 
and secretaries, or in the saddle, accompanied simply 
by one orderly, ascertaining by personal visitation the 
actual condition, spirit, and feelings of the men under 
his command. Not one of them but was permitted to 
approach him if he desired, for the settlement of any 
military difficulty ; and his own friendly, unpretending 
manners begot for him among the troops a lively affec- 
tion and growing confidence. 

No one doubted, if the thing were possible, that he 
would be the conqueror of Richmond. The friends of 
Gen. Lee, and rebels generally, together with a large 
number of faint-hearted loyalists, said it was not possi- 
ble ; and that, no matter how numerous or well sup- 
plied the Union army might become, it could never be 
led by the way of Chancellorsville, Spottsylvania, and 
tlie North Anna and Mattapony Rivers, to the enemy's 
capital. 

So matters stood on the morning of May 3, 1864. 
Most of the troops had been moved out of the log-huts 
tliey occupied all whiter, for sanitary reasons, and 



PREPARATIONS FOR AN ADVANCE. 455 

were encamped in the open fields. The majority of 
the furloughed soldiers had returned to their posts ; 
and large numbers of fresh troops, including several 
heavy artillery regiments, and the whole of the ninth 
corps under Gen. Burnside, had been added to the 
army. 

Quartermasters', commissary, and ordnance stores 
had been issued wherever there was need, baggage 
sent to the rear, the sick transferred to Washington 
and Alexandria, and- every preparation made for an 
immediate advance upon the enemy. No one knew 
when it was to be made, because Gen. Grant kept his 
own counsel. So little did the members of the First 
Regiment anticipate it, that they were busily engaged 
in the reconstruction of their camp when marching 
orders came. Indeed, it had been rumored that the 
army would remain as it was for several weeks, and 
be reviewed, prior to its departure, by President Lincoln 
in person. At four o'clock, Tuesday afternoon. May 
3, however, all these anticipations were dissipated, 
and the order came to prepare six days' rations, draw 
fifty rounds of ammunition per man, and be ready for 
a start by eleven o'clock that night. 

On the same day, all the army camps were broken 
up, and the troops put in motion towards the Rapidan. 

Considerable had been said and doue by friends of 
the First Regiment in Massachusetts and at Washing- 
ton, as their period of enlistment was so nearly up, to 
have the members spared the privations and sufierings 
of another campaign ; but the efibrt was entirely with- 
out result, and at eleven, p.m., they started, in compa- 
ny with the rest of the division, for Ely's Ford. 

A division of cavalry under Gen. Gregg had preced- 



456 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

ed the corps, repairing the roads, and protecting the 
engineers who laid the pontoons, by whom scarcely 
any resistance was encountered from the enemy. Only 
a few vedettes were seen upon the right bank of the 
river, who retired without contesting its passage ; and 
double bridges were immediately thrown across at Ely's 
and Germania Fords, upon which the several divisions 
of cavalry and infantry, together with the artillery, at 
once began to cross. 

The First Regiment reached ' the ford at eleven in 
the forenoon of the 4th, went over, and followed the 
river road in the direction of Chancellorsville. 

The warm, dry weather had caused the mud to dis- 
appear, and the roads were in excellent condition ; but 
the heat of the day, combined with the rapid marching, 
induced the troops to throw away blankets, shelter- 
tents, and an immense amount of valuable clothing, 
most of it new, which strewed the roadside for miles. 

On the night of the 4th, Gen. Wilson's Union cav- 
alry moved up tlic road to Parker's Store and Orange 
Court House, several miles. The rest of the army 
bivouacked at the Wilderness Tavern, Chancellorsville, 
and Germania Ford. 

The First Regiment occupied ground very near to 
that whereon they had fought the year before ; and 
many of the members took occasion to visit the precise 
localities where the ground had been so fiercely con- 
tested then. Most of the earthworks remained un- 
changed ; and the trees were still hanging as they were 
left, half shot off, with bullets by the thousand, and 
here and there cannon-balls, visible in the wood. The 
earth was covered with scraps of iron, bits of leather, 
old canteens, rags, and bloody clothing ; while scat- 



MOVEMENTS OF THE REBEL ARMY. 457 

tered about were seen whole skeletons, or skulls, ribs, 
thigh-bones, pieces of hands, feet, jaws, and arms, lying 
where they had fallen during the battle of the preced- 
ing year. It was not possible to tell in all cases 
whether these bones had belonged to friends or ene- 
mies. Occasionally something would be found to iden- 
tify the remains, but not often. .One former member 
of the First, whose skull lay bleaching upon the top of 
the ground, was identified by some peculiarity con- 
nected with his teeth. All the bones were re-interred 
before the army moved on again. As the rebels had 
held this spot for an entire year, their neglect was sim- 
ply barbarous and hiexcusable. 

Gen. Lee's army was encamped in a fortified posi- 
tion at and near Orange Court House. Either he had 
been surprised by Gen. Grant's rapid advance, or had 
expected to be attacked behind his intrenchments ; for 
he delayed making any movement until the Union ad- 
vance was well on the way to Spottsylvania Court 
House, and not only his right flank, but also his rail- 
road communications with Richmond, were in serious 
danger. He then hastily abandoned his intrenchments, 
and threw all his corps forward, so as to confront Gen. 
Grant's forces in the Wilderness, attempting, at the 
same time, to penetrate the angles of the corps flanks 
where the various corps formed a junction in line of 
battle. Had this been accomplished, it would seriously 
have embarrassed Gen. Grant, as his transportation 
had not yet crossed the river, and might thereby have 
been separated from the army, and exposed to capture 
or destruction ; but it was attempted too late. 

During Thursday the 5th, firing was suddenly heard 
in the direction of the Wilderness Tavern. Through-- 



458 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

out the day and night previous, not a gun had been 
discharged. The firing came from the forces of Gen. 
Ewell, which were drawn up along the old Gordons- 
ville turnpike to the nev7 plank-road, and were posted 
in the woods of the Wilderness, opposite the fifth corps. 
The whole region was most appropriately termed " the 
Wilderness," being covered with a dense growth of 
bushes, stunted pines, cedars, and scrub-oaks, inter- 
spersed with prostrate trees which had rotted and 
fallen to the ground, and pools of stagnant water ; and 
in wet weather was one vast morass. Here Gen. Grif- 
fin, of the fifth corps, first encountered the enemy, and 
opened the battle of the Wilderness. His men were 
feeling their way through the rank vegetation, unable 
to distinguish objects fifty yards in front, when they 
received the fire of a rebel line of battle, which, with- 
out any warning from pickets, or otherwise, was poured 
upon his soldiers as they stood. The fire was immedi- 
ately returned ; and a bloody action commenced, last- 
ing, without intermission, over an hour. The com- 
batants were close together, unable to make use of 
cavalry or artillery ; and in this short space of time a 
large number were killed and wounded on both sides. 
The enemy were then re enforced and pushed forward, 
gradually forcing Gen. Griffin back upon his supports. 
These poured in a succession of tremendous volleys 
as soon as the rebels could be discerned moving in 
the woods, whicli held them in check, and finally com- 
pelled them to retire. 

At this time, the fourth division of Gen. Hancock's 
corps was hurrying along to close up a gap existing 
between the sixth corps and the left centre of the 
Union army. The First Regiment came into position 



THE FIGHTING IN THE WILDERNESS. 459 

along a forest road, leading over a slight eminence, in 
the direction of Germania Ford. The scouts brought 
in word that the enemy were before us in large num- 
bers, and advancing. Guns were stacked in an instant ; 
and the whole command went to work throwing up a 
temporary breastwork of logs and rails. Old trees 
were rolled up and cleared of their branches ; new ones 
cut down as fast as the few axes procurable could be 
made to do service ; dirt, stones, and rocks thrown up 
in front and rear; and in an hour's time a passable 
line of earthworks completed. It was hardly done be- 
fore an order arrived for the whole line to advance. 
The woods seemed to be absolutely impenetrable. 
Trees were so close together, underbrush so thick, and 
the scrub-oaks so stiff and unyielding, that regular 
advances were simply impossible. The men went 
forward, however, in very irregular lines, going round 
the trees, creeping under the branches, and keeping as 
closely together as they were able. They had advanced 
thus only five or six hundred yards from the road, 
when, directly in front, the enemy, unseen, opened a 
double volley, which sent thousands of bullets crashing 
through the woods right into their faces. This fire, 
so sudden, so unexpected, and so deadly, was returned 
in but a feeble and scattering manner, because the 
men were so generally separated from their officers, 
and so far apart from each other, besides being per- 
plexed by the difficulties they had encountered in 
forcing their way through the tangled forest, that 
they were comparatively without organization. The 
enemy answered with another terrific volley, which 
told with deadly effect upon the foremost groups 
struggling along to get into some sort of fighting array, 



460 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

killing and wounding a largo number, and straightway 
forcing the rest to fall back. Along the whole division 
line, the movement became at once and rapidly retro- 
grade. Branches of trees tore off knapsacks and 
haversacks, knocked guns out of men's hands, and, in 
two or three cases, completely stripped them of their 
accoutrements ; but they continued to retire till they 
reached the breastwork, and there the majority halted. 
The enemy then advanced to obtain possession of the 
road. They met with a fierce and stubborn resistance. 
Along the front of both corps, the soldiers immediately 
became engaged, almost entirely with musketry, at 
short distances. Only four pieces of artillery were got 
into position. The conflict became extremely bloody. 
Every shot seemed to tell. Whenever the Union 
troops moved forward, the rebels appeared to have the 
advantage. Whenever they advanced, the advantage 
was transferred to us. So the conflict raged for two 
hours, hardly a regiment knowing how fared any other 
regiment, owing to the impenetrable obscurity of the 
forest ; when parts of two divisions of the fifth corps 
were suddenly precipitated upon the flank of Gen. A. 
P. Hill's corps, and became at once engaged in a fear- 
ful and obstinate encounter, which lasted, with great 
loss, far into the night. Gen. Alexander Hayes wa's 
killed, a number of valuable officers and a tliousand 
of the rank and file were killed and wounded, and 
nearly another thousand captured. Of the rebels, Gen. 
J. M. Jones was killed. Gen. Stafford mortally wound- 
ed, and over three hundred captured, in addition to 
the killed and wounded ; and their efforts to turn the 
left, or penetrate the centre, of the Union lines, were 
completely foiled. 



THE FIGHTING IN THE WILDERNESS. 461 

This was the commencement of that masterly series 
of manoeuvres, devised by Gen. Grant, and executed 
by his heroic troops, which kept turning the rebel 
right, and forcing Lee to fall back along the line of 
his communications, until his retreating columns disap- 
peared behind the formidable intrenchments of Rich- 
mond itself. 

During Thursday night, picket-firing was kept up 
at intervals throughout the night. The morning of 
Friday had scarcely dawned, when a fierce attack was 
made upon the right wing of the Union army, held by 
the sixth corps, under Gen. Sedgwick, which gradually 
extended, until it involved more or less of the sixth, 
second, and fifth corps in its fiery vortex of carnage 
and death. Both sides had thrown up intrenchments 
during the night, so that the attacking party on either 
side invariably got the worst of it. Gen. Lee had ap- 
parently formed the determination to break through 
the Union lines, at whatever cost. For this purpose, 
he mustered all his legions, and huiied them success- 
ively upon one point after anofher, compelling his 
infantry to advance, unsupported by artillery, through 
dense thickets of dwarf pines and stubbed chaparral, 
till they half-blundered, half-sprang upon the Union 
breastworks, behind wliich the Federal soldiers awaited 
their approach, and were hurled back again, line after 
line, in rapid succession, covering the ground with 
their dead and wounded, and compelling those near- 
est the intrenchments to come in and surrender by 
the dozen, under penalty of being shot down where 
they stood. 

Hardly had the first volleys of the enemy echoed 
along the lines from the right, when the second corps, 

39* 



462 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS EEGIMENT. 

under Gen. Hancock, following the order of battle for 
the day, pushed straight through the woods, and, fall- 
ing upon a weakened part of the rebel left, took pos- 
session of a row of rifle-pits, captured five colors from 
the enemy, and forced their columns back fully two 
miles. The advantage was followed up to the edge of 
a swamp, across which an enfilading fire was encoun- 
tered from intrenchments on both sides ; and in storm- 
ing one of these the gallant Gen. Wadsworth was in- 
stantly killed by a bullet through the head, while lead- 
ing the charge. Soon after this, a portion of Gen. 
Hancock's corps only escaped capture by being in the 
woods, where their detached and unsupported con- 
dition could not be observed. The gap between the 
second and fifth corps being still unfilled by Gen. Burn- 
side's command, tlie rebels had manoeuvred so as to 
reach the rear of the fourth division and Gen. Motte's 
brigade, whos'e first intimation of their proximity was 
a rapid fire of musketry directly behind the files. The 
brigade was speedily faced front to the rear, and 
swung round so as to engage the enemy, in doing 
which a long rebel line of battle was encountered, 
which might easily have captured every regiment be- 
fore them, had not a knowledge of their advantage 
been precluded by the density of the woods and under- 
growth. As it was, confusion reigned supreme on 
both sides for a short time, during which Gen. Han- 
cock's troops regained their former places in rear of 
the Union breastworks. There occurred now one of 
those strange intervals in the midst of battles, when 
for hours not a shot was fired on either side. It lasted 
until the middle of the afternoon, when Longstreet 
joined with A. P. Hill in making the most desperate 



REBEL ATTACK REPULSED. 463 

apsault of the day. The woods and leaves at this time 
were on fire in all parts of the field, sending up clouds 
of smoke to the lieavens, and throwing an impenetrable 
veil over every thing at a greater distance than five 
hundred feet. Concealed by this unexpected screen, tlie 
rebels formed four strong lines of battle, — two from 
each corps, — and advanced to the assault. While the 
smoke befriended them, it confused and impeded them 
at the same time ; and their onset had little of the furi- 
ous determination of the morning. Nevertheless, they 
bravely pushed up towards our first breastwork, not 
only staggering under the volleys of musketry poured 
into their columns, but contending with fire and smoke, 
and all the impediments of the forest. The first line, 
broken and wavering under the galling and repeated 
discharges of the Union infantry, was strengthened and 
steadied by the second, and this again by the third ; both 
sides loading and firhig in furious haste, till the rattle 
of at least fifty thousand muskets rose into an incessant 
roll and roar, and all the space between the combatants 
was swept by a perfect hurricane of death-dealing mis- 
siles. The enemy were losing fearfully; and the Union 
troops, behind their earthworks, slightly. This the reb- 
els could not long endure, so the order 'was given to car- 
ry our works by storm. The attempt was made. Straight 
forward, closed in mass, right in the face of rapid vol- 
leys, which slaughtered hundreds, they came to the 
first breastwork. It was on fire, and had been partial- 
ly abandoned. Mistaking its voluntary abandonment 
for its forced surrender, they leaped upon the parapet, 
unfurled their battle-flags, and began to cheer. Hard- 
ly had the sounds escaped their throats, when one ter- 
rific volley blazed from the Federal lines behind it, 



464 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

tumbling hundreds over into the ditches, writhing in 
the agonies of death ; and following the volley came a 
charge, on the double-quick, with fixed bayonets, which 
swept the rampart clear of every rebel remaining upon 
it, drove the solid throng back into the obscurity of the 
woods, and made captive several hundred who could not 
or would not try to get away. This ended the battle on 
the left and centre. The fourth division of the second 
corps, and G-en. Stevenson's division of the ninth corps, 
had borne the brunt of it, and suffered very severely. 

On the right, the enemy were loath to give up the 
attempt already ventured three times without success, 
and just at nightfall made another vigorous onslaught 
upon Gen. Sedgwick's intrenchments. This time they 
gained a temporary advantage. The men were mostly 
at work with shovels and axes, or resting from the 
battle. They had only the warning of the pickets a 
few hundred yards out, when the masses of the enemy 
were upon them, swarming over the earthworks, rush- 
ing after fugitives, shooting down such as would not 
halt when ordered, and yelling with exultation over 
their brief success. Gen. Seymour's brigade was at 
once stampeded ; and hundreds of flying men and 
animals began to rush through the woods towards Ger- 
mania Ford, imperilling not only the right wing, but 
also the whole army. It was the most critical moment 
of the campaign. Gen. Seymour did every thing that 
valor, authority, and good example could do to stem 
the tide, but utterly in vain. It swept by him like a 
whirlwind, leaving him a prisoner in rebel hands. Gen. 
Sedgwick succeeded better. He formed a second line 
in rear of the one which had been so quickly and 
thoroughly broken, rallied many of the fugitives, and 



HEAVY LOSSES OF BOTH ARMIES. 465 

brought the enemy to a sudden stand. Every moment 
they were held at bay increased the darkness fast set- 
tlhig upon the forest, and added to the perils of 
their advanced position; and though for an hour they 
fought witli infuriated vigor, contesting every inch of 
ground they had gained, they were at last forced to re- 
tire, and the Union lines were re-formed. Thus it 
proved that Gen. Lee's troops had been outfought, and 
himself outgeneralled, on the right, left, and centre. 

The losses during the two days' engagements had 
been unparalleled and appalUng. Gens. Hayes, Wads- 
worth, and Webb had been killed, and fifteen thousand 
of the Union army killed, wounded, and captured. 
Among the captured was Lieut. -Col Baldwin of the 
First Regiment, who was made a prisoner while super- 
intending the formation of the picket-line at night. 

The rebel losses had been greater than ours, includ- 
ing Gens. Jones, Jenkins, and Pickett killed, and Gens. 
Pegram, Hunter, and Longstreet wounded ; the latter 
so severely, by a bullet passing through his neck and 
shoulder, that he was disabled from duty for six months. 

No further attempt was made to force back the right 
wing ; and, excepting a shot now and then from the 
skirmishers, the night passed away in quietness. Eebel 
prisoners expressed great surprise that our army had 
not fallen back as usual, and commented, almost with 
enthusiasm, upon the cool and determined manner in 
which tlieir most furious charges had been repulsed. 
They were evidently at a loss to understand what such 
invincible resolution might portend, and seemed de- 
pressed and chagrined by its results. 

Skirmishing was resumed early Saturday morning, 
and continued at various points throughout the day. 



466 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Tlie ninth corps was pushed down below the right 
flank of tlie rebel army, causing Gen. Lee to abandon 
his intrenchments in the Wilderness, and take up a 
new line on the Po River. Both armies joined in 
a race for Spottsylvania Court House towards night, 
the rebels having the inside track ; and the tangled 
solitudes of the Wilderness were left to the dead and 
wounded, many of whom remained for days unburied 
and un cared for where they fell. 

During Saturday afternoon, a battle took place be- 
tween the Union and rebel cavalry, which resulted in 
the capture and occupation of Fredericksburg by the 
Union forces, and its use for three weeks or more for 
general hospital purposes, and as a depot of supplies. 
Never did soldiers seem happier than were those of the 
Union army to get out of the Wilderness. The country 
around Spottsylvania Court House was heavily wooded, 
but rolling and elevated, with here and there large open 
spaces. Most of the Union soldiers were in motion on 
Sunday nearly all day. During the afternoon, a severe 
struggle ensued with a body of the enemy on Alsop's 
Farm, near the Ny Run. Being in three lines, the 
last behind freshly constructed earthworks, they fought 
with the greatest bravery, and for hours withstood 
every effort made to dislodge them from their strong 
position. Late in the day, a fresh brigade went for- 
ward, and routed them at all points. The carnage 
was awful. One regiment which went in well officered 
came out under command of a first lieutenant. Anoth- 
er, which was two hundred strong at the commence- 
ment of the fight, counted only twenty-three men at 
its conclusion. The day had been intensely hot ; 
fences, forest, and leaves were on fire in all directions ; 



^ 



DEATH OF GEN. SEDGWICK. 467 

and hundreds of men were so overcome with fatigue 
and the rays of the sun, that they lay about by the 
roadside and in the woods, utterly unable to move. 
Monday was comparatively quiet. The rebel sharp- 
shooters were busy all the time, however, and sent 
their rifle-balls over a mile with fearful accuracy. 
One of them struck Gen. Sedgwick in the head, while 
he was superintending the planting of a battery, and 
killed him on the spot. There was no firing in front at 
the time : and the report of the gun whence the ball 
came was not heard by any one ; but its fatal errand was 
accomplished nevertheless, depriving the Union army 
of one of its best and bravest officers in an instant. 

Just at night, a portion of Gen. Hancock's corps 
crossed a branch of the Po River, and engaged the 
enemy with both infantry and artillery. Both sides 
charged in turn, and fought with equal valor and suc- 
cess ; but the enemy were found so strongly posted, 
that the Union troops were finally recalled. 

Tuesday morning, the 10th, the conflict began at 
half-past nine, and lasted without cessation until seven 
o'clock in the evening. Both sides made free use of 
their artillery, the reports of which were terrific all the 
forenoon. In the afternoon, repeated charges by the 
Union soldiers drove the rebels to their rifle-pits, where 
they took a most determined stand, and clung with in- 
flexible tenacity for hours. Just before night, several 
brigades were massed in front of their lines, which, at 
a given signal, moved impetuously forwaixl, and in 
spite of a galling fire, and every other obstacle of 
ftbatis, ditch, and rampart in their way, scaled the 
works, captured several guns and over a thousand pris- 
oners, and fell back in triumph to their former places. 



468 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

No words exist in human language which couhl con- 
vey to any one not present at this terrific encounter 
an adequate idea of its dreadful nature and effects ; 
tlie stunning detonations of the artillery ; the inces- 
sant rattle and roar of the musketry, reverberating in 
volleys by regiments, brigades, and divisions, through 
ravines and w^oods ; the explosion of shells ; the crash of 
cannon-balls through the trees ; the terrifying whiz and 
rush of canister-sliot among the branches ; the shouts, 
shrieks, and yells of enraged, excited, or wounded 
combatants ; the desolation reigning over the charred 
and smoking field, strewn with the dead, the dying, 
and the wounded, whose groans of pain and cries for 
help seemed to intensify ratlier tlian appease the dread- 
ful wrath that raged along the lines and hurled its 
deadly projectiles in furious haste from side to side, — 
all these combined to make an impression upon the 
participant or observer, such as no language could 
produce. At least twenty thousand men were killed, 
wounded, and captured on botli sides as the result of 
this day's fighting. 

On Wednesday, the 11th, the forenoon passed away 
in comparative quiet. During the afternoon, there was 
considerable heavy skirmishhig, but no regular as- 
sault. Gen. Lee requested forty-eight hours' truce for 
the purpose of burying his dead, and attending to his 
wounded ; but it was refused, Qqw Grant promising to 
bury all the dead witliin his lines, and to see that the 
woiuided had the best of care. 

On Wednesday, Gen. Grant sent his first despatch to 
Washington, closing with the memorable words, " I 
propose to fight it out on this line, if it takes all sum- 
mer." During the afternoon, it began to rain for the 



1, 



CAPTURE OF A REBEL DIVISION. 469 

first time since the opening of the campaign, and con- 
tinued at intervals during the niglit and most of the 
day Thursday. Wednesday night, preparations were 
made to surprise a portion of the enemy's intrench- 
ments before daybreak, and carry tliem by storm. 
About one o'clock in the morning, amid the darkness 
and rain. Gen. Hancock formed his corps on the left, 
between the sixjh and ninth corps. The formation 
was completed just at daylight. Gen. Barlow with the 
first division, and Gen. Birney with the second, con- 
stituted the first column ; Gen. Gibbon with the third, 
and Gen. Mott with the fourth division, the second. It 
was raining at the time, and the surface of the ground 
covered with a thick mist. Gen. Barlow advanced his 
men cautiously in column of battalions doubled on the 
centre, followed by the second line, within supporting 
distance. The orders were all given in a low tone of 
voice, no firing allowed, and the troops kept as silent 
as possible. Most of the way was rough, difficult, and 
heavily wooded. The enthusiasm of the men rose 
rapidly as they neared the hostile earthworks without 
encountering any opposition, until the first line silently 
broke into a run. Those behind did the same; and, al- 
most before the rebel pickets could challenge and fire, 
our troops had rushed over the intervening space, dashed 
aside the abatis, leaped the ditches, scaled the para- 
pets, and plunged in among the astonished infantry, 
some of whom were just beginning to yawn before get- 
ting up, while the majority were fast asleep on their 
arms. The cannoneers of the batteries were nearly all 
away feeding and watering their horses, and the offi- 
cers were at breakfast in or near their tents. In less 
than an hour, the entire division was surrounded, ^- 

40 



470 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

officers and men, comprising three thousand troops, 
with Major-Gen. Edward Johnson, and Brig.-Gen. G-. 
H. Stewart, — and brought, on the double-quick, into 
the Union lines. Thirty or forty field-guns were also 
taken in position as they stood, and many of them 
dragged off. The capture of Johnson's division caused 
the Union soldiers unwisely to cheer, which aroused 
the rebels from their slumbers along the whole front, 
and put them upon the defensive. 

A second line of earthworks was assailed as soon as 
the troops could be formed after capturing the first ; 
but its holders were awake, and ready for the onset. 
They fought stubbornly to the last, remaining so long 
under cover of their ramparts, that many were cap- 
tured and brought in by the foremost among the storm- 
ing-party. An immediate attempt was made on the 
part of Gen. Lee to regain the ground he had lost. 
The order he issued to his men was, that they 7nust 
retake the breastworks, and hold them against every 
force that was brought to the assault. Instantly and 
eagerly they entered upon the desperate undertaking. 
It was of no possible avail ; the Union lines were rap- 
idly pushed forward en masse ; a tremendous cannon- 
ade opened from right to left; the ninth corps hurried 
vigorously forward towards the conquered position ; the 
sixth was precipitated upon the unsteady battalions of 
Ewell's left ; and the fifth advanced till they became 
hotly engaged with the enemy in front, so as to prevent 
any manoeuvring to reenforce the endangered point. 
Success, then, became merely a question of numbers 
and physical strength. The enemy formed behind 
their second line of works only three hundred yards 
distant, and charged upon the first. They were al- 



THE DEATH-GRAPPLE OF THE WAR. 471 

most instantly repelled. Fresh troops were coming to 
the support and relief of the charging party every 
moment, whose guns swept the top of the opposite par- 
apet with a hurricane of bullets ; and cannon were 
pushed forward as rapidly as the nature of the ground 
would permit, which opened at once, and rapidly in- 
creased the jeopardy of those attempting a charge. 
Notwithstanding all this, however, the charges were 
kept up for three long and bloody hours, during which 
the ground seemed almost covered with dead and 
wounded, before the rebels finally retired, and desisted 
from their attempts to retrieve the disaster of the 
morning. 

On the right and centre, a furious contest was waged, 
resulting in no change of position to either party. On 
the left, a combined attempt was made, late in the 
day, to turn Gen. Lee's right, which resulted in partial 
success. At one point, the rebels held on to their 
intrenchments with such dogged obstinacy, and the 
Union troops assaulted them with such zealous eager- 
ness, that the combatants were only separated from 
each other by the narrow space of the intervening earth- 
work ; on either side of which the wounded, dying, 
and dead were piled up ii^heaps, almost to the top of 
the parapet. Every thing that ingenuity could invent, 
or daring accomplish, was attempted on both sides to 
gain even the slightest advantage. It seemed to be 
the death-grapple of the war. The Federal columns 
rushed forward like an avalanche, supported by the bat- 
teries, which poured in round after round of solid shot 
and shell : but the enemy met the shock with livid 
sheets of flame, which blazed along their ramparts ; and 
hundreds of our bravest were smitten to the earth, al- 



472 TUE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

most witliin reach of the foe. The sight was ghastlier 
than any thing ever seen before in this land. Those who 
took part in its terrible events were muddy, bloody, 
and begrimed with powder, but fearless and deter- 
mined, and ready to undertake whatever was required. 
They went forward at least a dozen times during that 
awfiil day, pouring out the best blood of the land 
upon the miry soil, and giving an exhibition of prow- 
ess and intrepidity witliout a parallel in the annals of 
warfare. When night fell, matters were at a dead 
lock. A space of ground was swept by the Union 
fire, across which it was indispensable for the rebels to 
pass, or they must abandon the position. All night 
long the First Regiment kept up an incessant fire 
across this area ; the men using at least a wagon-load 
of cartridges, and making their guns so foul, that, be- 
fore morning, they were obliged to go down to a brook 
below the position in squads, and wash them out. 

During the night the enemy became discouraged, 
and fell back. At light our men crept forward ; but 
the rebels were gone. Outside the earthworks they 
had erected, the ground was strewn with their dead, 
who had been shot down in attempting to pass over. 
Inside, they lay in heaps on^upon another, shot mainly 
through the head ; some of them still breathing and 
conscious, while the mud and water underneath and 
around were red with the blood still oozing from the 
frightful wounds they had received. Their works 
were extremely strong, raised from the ground, ditched 
with double fronts, and had traverses forty feet apart. 
The infantry fire to which they had been subjected 
was so severe, that it had gnawed down a tree eighteen 
inches in diameter, standing in the trench, and which 



NARROW ESCAPE OF GEN. MEADE. 473 

had fallen on a mass of their dead, lying where they 
were shot down, crushing them together in a manner 
frightful to behold. Other trees of smaller dimensions 
were cnt asunder, and the soil torn up in furrows where 
cannon-balls had ploughed their way into the bowels 
of the earth. 

Friday, the 13th, it continued rainy ; and no demon- 
stration of any magnitude was made by either side. 
Saturday, the 14th, the enemy having fallen back, 
Gen. Grant stretched his lines across the Fredericks- 
burg and Spottsylvania road, having all. his corps in 
position, from the front to the rear, and diligently at 
work with pick and spade. On the extreme left, there 
was some hard fighting, but no general engagement. 
During the afternoon. Gen. Meade narrowly escaped 
capture by the enemy, being in a house upon which they 
made an unlooked-for charge, having doubtless been 
informed by their scouts that he was there. Sunday, 
tlie 15th, positions were changed for the better, where 
it was possible, and our whole line greatly strength- 
ened by intrenchments and traverses. In the forenoon, 
while the First Regiment were resting in rear of their 
former position, tlie men observed some rebels stealing 
towards the unoccupied rifle-pits of the Union army, 
and without waiting for orders, except from company 
commanders, rushed .forward to their rescue ; and, 
having reached them first, drove the rebels back upon 
their supports. This position they held for the rest 
of the day, and throughout Monday, the 16th, and Mon- 
day night, although it was exposed to a cross-fire from 
the enemy's artillery. Early Tuesday morning, the 
17th, Gen. Birney's troops took position in the rifle-pits, 
and relieved the First. On the next day, the old posi- 

40* 



474 TIIK FIRST MASSACnCSETTS TIKGUIENT. 

tioii of the 12tli instant was reoccupied, and held till 
near midnight, when it was exchanged for tlie breast- 
works previously held on Sunday, the 15th. 

Marching was resumed tlie next morning, May 19, 
and continued across the Po River to a place known as 
Anderson's Plantation, where tlie regiment went into 
bivouac among the reserves for the first time since it 
left Brandy Station. Soon after four o'clock, p.m., 
Ewell's corps attempted to cut tlie Union communica- 
tions witli Fredericksburg, and capture such of the wag- 
on-trains as might be in reach, going or coming. He 
was resisted mainly by fresh troops, most of them being 
regiments of heavy artillery. These, liowever, fouglit 
witli the valor of veterans, and at nightfall had driven 
the enemy before them in tlie greatest confusion, cap- 
turing four hundred who attempted to make a stand, 
and rescuing a train of wagons which the rebels had 
already within their grasp. 

The First Regiment w^as deployed on the right as 
skirmishers during this engagement, and at its conclu- 
sion moved to tlie front, and was drawn up in line of 
battle ; where the men rested undisturbed upon their 
arms all night. 

In the morning, after shelling the woods, a recon- 
noissance in force was ordered, by which it was dis- 
covered that the enemy had retired during the night, 
leaving a considerable number of stragglers among the 
trees, asleep or exhausted, all of whom were made pris- 
oners of war. The position of the 19th was immedi- 
ately resumed, where the companies remained at rest 
all day. During the night, orders arrived to move 
forward upon Guiney's Station and Bowling Green, 
on the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad; but, 



CASUALTIES. 475 

SO far as the First Regiment was concerned, they were 
were soon after countermanded, and Col. McLaughlin 
was ordered to transfer all men belonging to the regi- 
ment, whose terms of service had not expired, to the 
Eleventh Massachusetts Regiment, and report, with the 
rest of the regiment, to the superintendent of the re- 
cruiting service at Boston, Mass. 

The following is a list of killed, wounded, and miss- 
ing in the First Regiment at the battles of the Wilder- 
ness and Spottsylvania Court House : — 

Company A : Killed, Private Lewis Hutchins. 

Company I : Killed, Capt. Moses H. Warren. 

Wounded, Adjutant Charles E. Mudge, contusion. 

Company A : Wounded, Privates Daniel Gr. Kelley, 
not dangerous ; Charles B. Connor, wrist, slight ; 
George Funk, trifling. 

Company B : Wounded, Sergeant Richard F. Irish, 
leg, severe ; Privates David Jones, head, serious ; James 
Kelley, slight flesh-wound ; Seth P. Yarney, body, not 
dangerous. 

Company C : Wounded, Privates Edward C. Brown, 
right leg, painful ; John H. Hoffman, inconsiderable ; 
Gordon Mclnness, flesh, slight ; Samuel B. Reading, 
insignificant. 

Company D : Wounded, Privates John H. Baldwin, 
thigh, not serious ; Aretes C. Chamberlin, flesh, slight ; 
Robert K. Danforth, flesh, slight ; James R. Macrea, 
right shoulder, painful ; James G. Parker, contusion. 

Company E : Wounded, Privates Uriah Howes, tri- 
fling ; Charles A. Jones, slight flesh-wound ; George 
W. Wilkins, slight flesh-wound. 

Company F : Wounded, Color-Sergeant, Lewis H. 
Hall, scalp, not dangerous. 



476 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Company G : Wounded, Corporal Greorge Sawyer, 
trifling; Privates Augustus R. Pope, scalp, not serious ; 
James Rafferty, hand, not serious. 

Company H: Wounded, Lieut. John S. Willey, con- 
tusion ; Corporal Orville Bisbee, hand, slight ; Privates 
Leonard Clark, left shoulder ; William H. Smith, tri- 
fling ; Joseph W. Spooner, trifling. 

Company I : Wounded, Sergeant George F. Marden, 
shoulder, severe; Corporal Isaac Clark, leg, dangerous ; 
Privates John Cripps, through the lungs, serious ; Wil- 
liam Murray, left side, painful. 

Company K : Wounded, Corporal George Goode, 
through both thighs, serious ; Privates John Coullahan, 
head, not dangerous ; Conrad Herman, jr., slight flesh- 
wound ; Joseph M. Leonard, hand, trifling ; John 
Lane, knee, painful. 

Missing, Lieut.-Col. Clark B. Baldwin. 

Company A : Missing, Privates William H. Butler, 
William Hughes, Leonard Lewis, Augustus Waterman. 

Company F : Missing, Privates Thomas P. Frost ; 
Anthony McArt. 

Company H : Missing, Private Robert Andrews. 

Company K: Missing, Privates Patrick W. Des- 
mond ; Horace Mclntire. 




CHAPTER XX. 

RECEPTION AT HOME. THE FINAL STRUGGLE. 

" They come, they come, our liero-band. — 
Old Massachusetts' First ! 
Let shouts of welcome loud and long 
From every bosom burst ! 

They come, — the gallant men who stood 

Between us and our foes, 
Receiving on their loyal breasts 

The dastard traitors' blows ! 

Give them warm welcome ; for they come 

From many a hard-fought field, — 
Fields crimsoned by the blood they shed 

Our hearts and homes to shield. 

Give them warm welcome, and for aye 

Remember -how they bled: 
Fold to our hearts the living ones; 

Proud tears shed o'er the dead." 

WHILE the Army of the Potomac continued its 
marcli towards Giiiney's Station and Bowling 
Green, the First Regiment followed tlie telegraph road 
leading to Fredericksburg. 

The distance was hard upon fifteen miles. The city 
was found to be crowded with Union soldiers, most of 
them wounded, to whom every attention was being paid 
by the regular surgeons, hospital stewards, and their 
assistants, and also by the agents of the Christian and 
Sanitary Commissions, volunteer nurses, and others. 
The churches and public buildings of the place, witli 
a large number of private residences found vacant. 



478 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

were devoted to hospital purposes, and the streets pa- 
trolled by a force of cavalry amply sufficient to protect 
the temporary occupants from violence at the hands of 
guerillas or disloyal residents. 

After a short stay, the regiment crossed the Rappa- 
hannock, and went into bivouac upon the plain below 
Falnioutli, where an opportunity was afforded for rest, 
and the ablutions which for several days had Ijcen un- 
avoidably neglected. At four, p.m., the march was re- 
sumed for Belle Plain, where, after considerable delay, 
tlie regiment embarked at ten, p.m., on board the 
steamer "Utica," for Washington, and arrived in tliat 
city the next morning at half-past three. Immediate 
arrangements were made for the transportation of the 
regiment by cars to Baltimore and Pbiladelphia ; and 
the companies marched through the streets of the 
national capital to the Soldiers' Rest, a series of com- 
modious wooden barracks connected with the railroad 
depot. 

On the way from tlie front to Fredericksburg, from 
Fredericksburg to Belle Plain, and in tlie city of Wash- 
ington, large numbers of hundred-days' men were met, 
bound for the army under Gen. Grant. They were 
full of martial enthusiasm almost to a man ; and such 
of them as met the rebels in hostile combat acquit- 
ted themselves creditaljly throughout the campaign. 
Twelve hours were spent at the Soldiers' Rest, in 
Washington, before a train of cars was procured for 
transportation to Baltimore; and the same vexatious 
delays were encountered in tlie latter city and Phila- 
delphia. 

TFie Cooper-shop and Union Refreshment Saloons of 
Pjjiladelphia were visited as usual, and full justice 



HOMEWARD BOUND. 479 

done to tlie generous fare fiiruislied by tlicir patriotic 
supporters and attendants. The city of New York 
was reached on the 23d, where the men were provided 
with quarters at the barracks in City-Hall Park, and 
the officers generously furnished with rooms and en- 
tertainment by Col. Stetson of the Astor House. An 
elegant supper was given by this gentleman to the 
officers and a few invited guests, on the evening of 
the 23d, whicli afforded unmixed enjoyment to all 
present. 

On the 24th, after a farewell dress-parade in front of 
the city hall, the regiment embarked on the steamer 
'' Metropolis " for Fall River, where it arrived early the 
ne^t morning, and the cars were taken for Boston. 

Several friends had come on from the latter city, 
who assured the men tliat an enthusiastic reception 
awaited them there ; but no one connected with the 
command had any idea it would be half so demonstra- 
tive and generous as it proved to be. To them all, it 
was an occasion of unmixed gratification and delight, 
and will be remembered with pleasure and pride as 
long as tliey live. A special train of cars was pro- 
vided at Fall River, which arrived in Boston between 
nine and ten in the forenoon of tlie 25th. 

Ten companies of various names, with their bands, 
comprising the escort, had reported to Gen. Robert 
Cowdin, who was master of ceremonies for the day, 
and were in waiting at the Beach-street barracks when 
the regiment arrived. 

The men immediately deposited their knapsacks, 
haversacks, &c., inside the barracks, and formed col- 
umn, together with their escort, in the following 
order : — 



480 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

Gilmore's Band. 

Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, Major 
Edwards commanding, — seventy men, 

Morse's Cambridge Band. 

Ex-members of Company H, First Regiment, Chelsea 
Light Infantry, Capt. J. R. Gerrisli, — forty men. 

Chelsea Brass Band. 

Army and Navy Association of Veterans, of Chelsea, 
under arms, Capt. George B. Hanover, — sixty men. 

Boston Cornet Band. 

Roxbury Reserve Guard, Capt. Edward Wyman, — 
seventy bayonets. 

Cavalry Band. 

Roxbury Horse Guards, Capt. Richard Holmes, — 
fifty sabres. 

First Regiment Drum Corps. 

Col. McLaughlin, of tlie First, and Gen. Cowdin, 
commanding escort, mounted. 

The First Regiment, marching in sixteen platoons, 
witli their four standards in centre. 

Germania Band. 

Old Fusileers, citizens' dress, under arms, Capt. 
Cooley, — fifty bayonets. 

Lidependent Boston Fusileers, Lieut. Proctor com- 
manding, relieved from duty at Galloupe's Island^ — 
one hundred bayonets. 

Ex-members of the First Regiment (veterans), Lieut. 
Morris commanding, — fifty bayonets. 

Boston Brigade Band. 

East-Boston Calkers' Association, citizens' dress, — 
one hundred and twenty men. 

Five carriages, with wounded and disabled soldiers 
and officers of the regiment. 



RECEPTION IN BOSTON. 481 

The Third Company, State Guard, Captain A. J. 
Wright, South Boston, subsequently entered the line. 

To say that the streets and sidewalks were crowded 
would but very feebly express the condition they were 
in from the Old-Colony Depot to the State-House, and 
from the State-House to Faneuil Hall. They were, in 
truth, densely packed, absolutely thronged with peo- 
ple, — merchants, tradesmen, mechanics, and laborers. 
Men, women, and children — relatives, friends, and 
acquaintances of the soldiers, and thousands of others, 
drawn together merely out of curiosity — were there 
in such masses, that it was with the utmost difficulty 
that the column marched through them at all. 

Harrison Avenue, up which the regiment and escort 
passed, was densely filled, and the windows fully occu- 
pied ; while from scores of houses flags were displayed. 
The column reached from Harvard Street to Davis 
Street. Passing through Davis, it came down Wash- 
ington to Boylston Street, all the way the walks filled 
with people ; then by Tremont, Park, Mount Yernon, 
Joy, and Beacon Streets to the State-House, where the 
soldiers were received by the Governor and other dis- 
tinguished gentlemen. 

From the State-House, the column went by way of 
Beacon, Tremont, Court, State, Commercial, and Mar- 
ket Streets to Faneuil Hall. There were flags every- 
where ; and in some places the crowds were almost 
impassable, and the enthusiasm great. State Street, 
Commercial and Market Streets, were particularly 
lively in their reception. Rounds of cheers repeatedly 
rose far above the other noises in the street. No corps 
that returned to Boston received a warmer welcome. 

The line was halted in Market Street for some time. 

41 



482 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

At twelve o'clock, the head of the regiment entered 
Faneuil Hall, preceded by the Governor and others, 
and was hailed with great applause from the crowded 
galleries. The appearance of the five standards, one 
of which was an old one, just brought from the State- 
House, was the signal for renewed applause; the ladies 
energetically waving their handkerchiefs. The soldiers 
occupied places at the tables, and laid their guns be- 
neath. 

Five minutes after, having disposed of the escort, 
Gren. Cowdin appeared upon the platform. The ap- 
plause with which his old regiment greeted him was of 
the most enthusiastic character, continued for a long 
time, and was joined in by the galleries. 

The Ancient and Honorables had a table on the 
north of the hall, — no otlier company being able to 
enter, for want of room. 

At twenty minutes past twelve o'clock. Mayor Lin- 
coln arose, and said, — 

" Gentlemen of the First Regiment^ — You have 
been favored in many particulars, and I know of no 
respect in which you have been more favored, in your 
three-years' service, than in having had one of the 
best chaplains that ever went out from Massachusetts ; 
and though I see other clergymen here, yet I feel that 
none could express so well the gratitude of your hearts 
that you have returned home, or of ours that you have 
come home, than your chaplain. Rev. Warren H. Cud- 
worth." 

The chaplain invoked the divine blessing. 

The soldiers were then asked to partake of the colla- 
tion provided by Smith ; and they did so with genuine 
soldiers' relish ; the band in the gallery playing several 
stirring and spirited airs. 



BEGEPTION IN BOSTON. 483 

Major Lincoln afterward called the assembly to or- 
der, and welcomed the regiment, saying that he under- 
stood that it was just three years ago that day since it 
was mustered into service. The city took a peculiar 
interest in this corps, commanded as it was by an old 
Boston citizen, and with many more in its ranks. After 
speaking of the city flags, and thanking the regiment 
for its services, the Mayor announced Gov. Andrew, 
who was received with applause. 

He addressed this scarred and war-worn remnant of 
near two thousand men, who that day stood in Faneuil 
Hall again, and received the plaudits in our streets of 
a hundred thousand patriotic hearts. These welcomes, 
the sobs of those dear ones who took their heroes joy- 
fully in their arms, spoke with more than human voice. 
He could not help remembering these three years of 
immortal history, writing it with your bayonets, carv- 
ing it with your swords, sanctifying it with your blood ; 
and he could not help wondering whether he were ad- 
dressing the classic heroes of other years, or tlie real 
heroes of to-day. Many had fallen in the forefront of 
the battle, face to the foe. He remembered Chandler, 
who slept in his unknown grave near Richmond, and 
many others, who would answer, with their major, at 
the grand roll-call hereafter, to receive the reward that 
neither men nor nations could bestow. 

The simple thanks of honest hearts were due to all, 
living and dead. The Commonwealth of Massachu- 
setts, addressing not only the present officers and men 
of the First Regiment, but Gen. Cowdin (great ap- 
plause), and all those among the living who had par- 
ticipated in your trials, — to the veterans in line, and 
the veterans discharged before, — gave her heartiest 



484 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

thanks. During all the years remaining on earth might 
the honest, substantial gratitude of patriotic hearts 
make their paths happy ! Let thanks to God be raised, 
and prayers, that, in his own good time, he would 
crown our arms with victory. (Applause.) 

Col. McLaughlin responded to the eulogiums pro- 
nounced by his Excellency the Governor, regretting 
that he could not find words to express his thanks, or 
the gratitude of the regiment, for what he had been 
pleased to say. The men left for the field three years 
ago, and how well they have done their duty history 
will tell. It was a pleasant change from the stern 
scenes of war to this bright and peaceful hall ; and they 
were all glad to get out of the wilderness. (Laughter.) 
We had left many behind ; but they had died as the 
brave die, and in a glorious cause. In conclusion, the 
colonel again expressed gratitude for this noble recep- 
tion. 

Gov. Andrew then introduced Gen. Cowdin, the first 
colonel of the regiment. 

The General said he was glad to see them: God 
bless them ! He thanked Heaven he saw these faces 
upturned to his to-day. Many had perished. There 
was Forrest and Lieut. Smith of the Fusileers, the first 
martyrs, and others on later fields ; the Chelsea com- 
pany, at Yorktown, &c. He rejoiced that so many 
were here again. This regiment had never retreated 
or fallen back an inch, except in obedience to the com- 
mand of an officer superior in rank to the colonel. (Ap- 
plause.) At Blackburn's Ford, we captured a post: 
our supporting regiments fell back, but we refused to, 
and stubbornly stood up. 

The surrounding fields were being torn to pieces by 



RECEPTION IN BOSTON. 486 

sliot and shell, and I wanted a man to go across them 
to the general : one sprang up, crying, " I'm the man ! " 
And here he is, — Lieut. Candler. (Loud applause ; 
and ex-Lieut. William L. Candler, of Brookline, was 
escorted to the platform.) Gen. Cowdin closed appro- 
priately. 

Gov. Andrew repeated an order of the colonel, that 
the companies were to be furloughed till Saturday 
morning. 

At this point, three cheers were given for the First 
Regiment. 

Cheers were returned for the Governor, the Mayor, 
and the city. 

Loud calls were made for Mr. Cudworth, the chap- 
lain of the regiment. 

The chaplain said there was a history told of a 
certain woman in Scripture, that was better than all 
others — she had done what she could. You have 
done what you could. (Applause.) 

The exercises were brought to a close at ten minutes 
past one, when the different companies left the hall, 
each in charge of its own captain, to be severally es- 
corted to their respective towns or armories. 

Besides the splendid reception given by the authori- 
ties and citizens of Boston to the regiment as a whole, 
other receptions were prepared, and duly presented to 
the separate companies, by the towns, &c., where they 
were raised: to A, in Brookline; B, in East Boston ; C, 
F, G, and I, in the city proper ; E, in South Boston ; H, 
in Chelsea ; and D and K, in Roxbury ; after which 
the men were dismissed until Saturday morning, the 
28th, with orders to meet, at ten o'clock, on Boston 
Common. Considerably before the time appointed, 

41* 



486 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

they were all there ; and, as the clock struck ten, the 
companies came together, and were formed in regi- 
mental line, after which Col. McLaughlin exercised 
them in the manual of arms in the presence of a large 
number of spectators. The skill they displayed showed 
the result of three-years' discipline. Afterwards, they 
wheeled in column by companies ; and, at half-past 
twelve, companies D and G were mustered out. 

The other companies were taken in their order; and, 
before two o'clock, all had ceased to be soldiers, and 
been transformed into citizens. The standards of the 
regiment were taken to the State-House. The com- 
pany rolls were certified, and sent to Washington; and, 
at the end of a few weeks, the men were paid off at 
Faneuil Hall. 

A great wrong was perpetrated upon the two-years' 
men connected with the regiment, inasmuch as they 
had been promised one hundred dollars' bounty, previ- 
ous to their enlistment, twenty-five of which was paid 
to them when they were sworn in ; but because they 
did not serve quite through the two years, being dis- 
charged about two months previously, not only did 
they not receive the seventy-five dollars equitably due 
them, but the twenty-five dollars they had already re- 
ceived were deducted from their pay, and many of 
them were sent home penniless, and in debt to the 
Government. 

It is to be hoped that this grievous wrong, alike dis- 
creditable to the country, the State of Massachusetts, 
and the good old city of Boston, will not remain per- 
manently unredressed. 

Before closing, the author cannot forbear the expres- 
sion of his gratitude to friends at home, for their 



TABLE OF DISTANCES TRAVELLED. 



487 



generous supply of reading-matter, clothing, and other 
things forwarded to his address from time to time, by 
express, while the regiment remained in the service. 
Boxes were received from — 

The East-Boston Unitarian Society ; the Rev. Dr. 
James W. Thompson's, Jamaica Plain ; the Rev. George 
H. Hepworth's, Boston ; the Rev. Alfred P. Putnam's, 
Roxbiiry ; James M. Barnard, Esq. ; Miss Caroline S. 
Whitmarsh ; Mrs. Charles B. Richmond ; Mrs. Harrison 
Gray Otis ; Mrs. Jesse B. Clark ; several members of 
the East Boston Unitarian Society ; and others, the 
conteats of which afforded conclusive evidence to the 
recipients, that, though absent, they were not forgot- 
ten. 



TABLE OF DISTANCES 



Travelled hy the First Massachusetts Regiment from June 
1, 1861, to May 25, 1864. Made out hy Messrs. Whitte- 
more and Perkins of Co. K. 



Date. 


Fkom 




2 
1 


1 


June 1, 
" 13, 
" 15 




6 
2 

8 

5 

15 

15 

15 

13 

6 

3 

3 

30 

2 

h 


365 




Camp Ellsworth to Camp Cameron 




" 15,16,17, 
" 19, 
July 8, 
" 14,15, 

" 16 


Rnctnn tn Wn<;hincrtnn 


130 


Washington to Georgetown, Camp Banks. 
Camp Banks to Gr't Falls (Co.s 1 and K). 
Gr't Falls to Camp Banks (Co.s I and K). 
P.tirYin Rnnlfs to Vienna 




" 17 


Vipnnn tfv r!pntrp.vi11e 




" is; 

" .19, 
" 21, 
» 22, 
" 23, 
" 24, 


Ceutreville to Blackburn's Ford and back. 

" to near Blackburn's Ford " 
Returned to Centreville 




r^Q>-n^-i Ranlre nr^rn'^c; thft PotOTTlflC 




To Arlington Heights, Fort Albany 





488 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 




Aug 
Sept 


13, 


u 


11, 


1( 


12, 


'* 


13, 


u 


14, 


u 


15, 


u 


16, 


tt 


19, 20, 


Oct. 


5, 


" 


6,7, 


li 


24, 


ii 


25, 


u 


26, 


1862 




April 5, 
" 6-10, 


" 


12, 


(( 


16, 


May 


5,' 


It 


6, 


" 


^, 


11 


15, 


" 


16, 


" 


18, 


" 


19, 


" 


23, 


i( 


24, 


(( 


25, 


June 


4, 


" 


29, 


u 


30, 


July 


1, 

2, 


<■<■ 


4, 


(( 


5, 


Aug 


15, 

16, 


" 


17, 


" 


18, 


" 


19, 


" 


21, 


•• 


21-24, 


" 


24, 


(t 


25 


u 


26, 


(( 


27; 


it 


28, 


u 


29, 


" 


30,31, 


Sept 


• 1, 



F't Albany to Bladensb'g, Md., C'p Union 

Camp Union to Upper Marlborough 

Through the town and returned to camp . . 
Upper Marlborough to near Nottingham. . 
Near Nottingham to Lower Marlborough. , 

Lower Marlborough to Friendship 

Friendship to Upper Marlborough 

Upper Marlborough to Hill's Landing 

Hill's Landing to Lower Marlborough 

Lower Marlborough to Prince Frederick. . 
Prince Frederick to Lower Marlborough . . 
Lower Marlborough to Up'r Marlborough 

Upper Marlborough to Camp Union 

Camp Union to opposite Alexandi-ia 

Opposite Alexandria to Piscataway 

Piscataway to Camp Hooker 

Camp Hooker to Budd's House 

Transport to Landing on Peninsula 

To near York Point 

near Yorktown, Camp Winfield Scott. 

bivouac in the woods 

battle-field of Williamsburg 

camp near Fort Magruder 

north side of town 

Btfrnt Ordinary 

Through Barhamsville 

To New Kent Court- House 

Baltimore Cross-Roads 

Bottom's Bridge 

Over Chickahominy and back 

To Poplar Hill 

Seven Pines, near Fair Oaks 

near Glendale 

battle-field of Glendale 

Malvern Hill 

near Harrison's Bar 

camping-ground 

near Charles -City Court House 

" Chickahominy 

" Barhamsville 

" Williamsburg 

" Yorktown 

Aboard the " Vanderbilt " 

Transport to Alexandria 

Through Alexandria 

To Warrenton Junction 

camp near the Junction 

battle-field of Bristow 

Blackburn's Ford 

second Bull-Run fight 

Manteuvriiig and retreat to Centreville. . . 
To Chantilly 



TABLE OF DISTANCES TRAVELLED. 



489 




Sept. 2, 



" 


4, 


" 


12, 


Oct. 


20, 


Nov. 


1, 


" 


1, 


'* 


2, 


u 


6, 


" 


25, 


Dec. 


1, 


" 


2, 


tt 


3, 


«' 


11, 


u 


12, 


u 


13, 


It 


16, 


1863 




Jan. 


3, 


u 


21, 


u 


23, 


April 28, 




29, 


u 


30, 


May 


1, 




5, 


u 


e; 


u 


19, 


June 11, 


u 


12, 


u 


14,15 


u 


16, 


u 


17, 


u 


18, 


(( 


19, 


(( 


20, 


u 


25, 


(( 


26, 


(( 


27, 


u 


28, 


(( 


29 


u 


30, 


July 


8, 


u 


(( 


9, 


u 


10, 


u 


11» 


u 


12, 


u 


14, 


u 


15, 


t( 


16, 


u 


i7, 



To near Fairfax Station 

near Fort Lyons. . . 

Changed position 

To near Fairfax Seminary 

Munson's Hill 

From Munson's Hill to camp 

From c'mp at Fairfax Seminary to bivouac 
From bivouac through Fairfax C'rt House 

and back to village 

From the village to station on railroad. . . . 
To Wolfe's Run Shoals 

Dumfries 

Stafford Court House 

Camp Smoke, near Falmoiith 

bivouac 

bivouac 

Across river to battle-ground of Fred'burg 
Back to Smoke Camp 

Changed camp to near Fitz Hugh House 

To near Banks's Ford 

Back to camp near Fitz Hugh House. . . 

To down the river 

Changed position 

To Hartwood Church 

Chancellorsville 

north bank of river 

camp near Fitz Hugh House 

Changed camp 

To near Hartwood Church 

Beverly Ford 

Manassas Junction 

Changed position 

To Centreville 

Changed position 

To Gum Spring 

Changed position 

To mouth of Monocacy River 

Catoctan Mountains 

Burkettsville 

Frederick City through Middleton.. 

Taneytown . , . , 

Bridgeport (?) 

Gettysburg battle-field 

Mechanicstown 

Frederick City 

South Moiintain Pass 

Keedysville (manoeuvring) 

Changed position 

u u 

'«• " 

To near Sharpsburg 

near Sandy Hook 

near Lovettsville 



8i 
12 
11 



li 



490 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 






Date. 


From 


'6 

1 


Railroad. 
Transport. 


Julv 18, 1 
"* 20, 
" 22, 
" 23, 


To Hillsborough 

Upperville I 

near Piedmont St'n, Manassas G'p R.R.I 

Through Manassas Gap I 


6 

16 

7 

9 

3 

11 

10 

12 

2 

1 


60 

150 

85 

285 
?,0 




" 24, 
" 25, 

" 26, ] 
" 31, 1 
Aug. 1, i 
2, 


Returned to near Markham Station | 

To near Salem 

near Warrenton 

Warrenton Junction and Alexandria. . 

Phila., marched in Baltimore and Phila. 

Governor's Island 


3 


" 17, 


Rikers 


10 


Oct. 14, 


Alexandria, Va 


^9. 


" 16; 


Union Mills 




" 19, 


Bristow Station 


12 






" 20, 




14 

i 




" 21, 

" 26, 
" 30, 


To near Catlett's Station 

Changed camp 

To near Warrenton Junction 




Nov. 7, i 


Throufh Bealton to bivouac 


17 
6 

7 

15 
3 

11 
4 

3i 
6 

14 

12 






" 8, 


To near Kellv's Ford 




" 10, 


Brandv Station 




" 11, 


Changed camp 




" 26, 
" 27, 
" 28, 
" 29, 


Brandy Station to other side of Rapidan. 

Bivouac to fight near Locust Grove 

Through Locust Grove to near Mine Run . . 
Manoeuvring 




" 30, 


To Mine Run 




Dec. 1, 
" 2, 

" 3, 


Down plank-road to Wilderness 

Across river (Rapidan) to bivouac 

To old camp at Brandv ... . .... 






1864. 
Feb. 6, 


Brandy to bevond Stevensburg 


5 
5 

20! 
10 

8| 

!! 

5l 
2 
2 




" 7, 


Back to Brandv 




May 4, 

" 5, 


To Chancellorsville battle-ground of 1863 . 
Battle of the Wilderness 




" 8, 
" 10, 


near Spottsylvania Court House 

Manoeuvring on the battle-field 




" 11, 


Along the line to the west 




" 14, 


Manoeuvring 


, 


" 15. 


» 




" 17, 


u 




» 18, 






" 19, 




1 u 


IC 

6 
2C 

2 


280 
50 




•' 20, 


1 " 




" 21, 

" 21, 22, 


To Fredericksburg, thence to Belle Plain . 
By steamer up River Potomac 


40 


" 22, 


Through Washington 




•' 22, 23, 


' To New York over the railroad 




" 24, 25, 


On boat to Fall River 


186 


" 26, 


From Fall River to Boston 






Total distance travelled 






. 1.262j!l32S 


724 




Grand total 




\ 






3,3115 





ADVANCE OF THE FEDERAL ARMY. 491 



THE FINAL STRUGGLE. 

It seems hardly proper to conclude the record of 
these pages, without a brief reference to the glorious 
achievements of the Army of the Potomac in the ulti- 
mate suppression of the Rebellion, subsequent to the 
20th of May, 1864. 

The several corps continued their march from Spott- 
sylvania Court House to the Mattapony River, which 
was crossed without any severe engagement or serious 
interruption ; the rebels falling back behind the North 
Anna. Many thousand veteran troops were forwarded 
to Gen. Grant's forces, with large numbers of fresh 
cavalry-horses, and upwards of thirty thousand hun- 
dred-days' men. Immediate demonstrations were made 
against the enemy, which resulted in the capture 
of a considerable number of prisoners, with serious 
losses in killed and wounded on both sides. Each day 
saw the Union army advancing nearer Richmond, and 
the rebel forces dwindling away as they fruitlessly con- 
tended against its steady and irresistible progress. 

On Tuesday morning. May 31, Gen. Grant had his 
headquarters only five miles south-east of Hanover 
Court House; and his troops were distributed along 
the outer line of the Richmond defences, across Tol- 
opatomy Creek, and in vicinity of the Chickahom- 
iny. 

On the next day, a division of tlie enemy, under Gen. 
Hoke, made an energetic attempt to get possession of 
Coal Harbor, which was repulsed by Gen. Sheridan, 
but led to a series of desperate encounters, lasting, 
almost without intermission, for ten days. Charges and 
countercharges were made by both sides, during which 



492 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

prodigies of valor were performed, and many single 
combats took place. 

The fighting was not confined to the day, but took 
place frequently at night, when one side attempted to 
surprise the other, or gain some advantage of position 
under cover of the darkness. 

The slaughter occasioned by these assaults was ex- 
cessive. Both armies were well supplied with artillery, 
and both fought with the valor of desperation for the 
slightest gain of any kind. Strong intrenchments 
covered the front of both lines of battle ; and an ap- 
proach to any point brought upon the storming col- 
umn a concentric fire too destructive for endurance. 

During only three days' operations round Coal 
Harbor, the Union losses amounted to nearly ten 
thousand men, and those of the rebels to at least an 
equal number. The hostile armies were in such close 
contact on the morning of Monday, June 6, that the 
battle-fields of the previous five days were disputed 
ground, and many of the wounded lay uncared for 
where they fell, while all the dead remained unburied. 
The result was an armistice of two hours agreed 
upon between Gens. Grant and Lee, during which the 
wounded were all removed, and the dead interred. 

On Sunday night, June 12, the grand movement 
began which resulted in the junction of the Army of 
the Potomac with the Army of the James, and the 
transfer of active operations from the north to the south 
of Richmond. 

The crossing of the James was effected in two days, 
with a loss of only four hundred men ; and immediate 
preparations were made for an assault upon Peters- 
burg. This city had contain-ed before the war eigh- 



EXPLOSION OF A MINE. 493 

teen thousand inhabitants, and been the abode of 
considerable wealth and refinement. It is situated on 
the south bank of the Appomattox River, only twenty- 
two miles from the rebel capital, -with which it is con- 
nected by railroad, river, and turnpike. It was as- 
saulted several times in succession by Gen. Grant's 
forces, and important redoubts with lines of rifia-pits 
and formidable intrenchments were carried with dis- 
tinguished gallantry : but the Union soldiers were not 
able to penetrate into the city without greater loss of 
life than its capture seemed to warrant : and, about the 
1st of July, the army became comparatively quiet. 

Towards the last of July, a mine was projected by 
Lieut.-Col. Pleasants of the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania 
Regiment, which ran under a six-gun fort belonging to 
the enemy, and was sprung on the morning of Saturday, 
the 30th instant. It was hoped to gain some impor- 
tant advantage during the confusion resulting from 
the mine's explosion ; but, owing to an unfortunate 
misunderstanding, the assault was not made quickly 
enough, and the affair resulted in a Federal loss of al- 
most five thousand men, while the rebels lost but few 
over one thousand. 

During the months of August, September, and 
October, important enterprises were attempted, one of 
which was the cutting of the Dutch Gap Canal ; 
another, the capture of a large portion of the Weldon 
Railroad ; and another still, the assault upon the 
strong defences of Chapin's Bluff, north of the James 
River. 

A severe engagement took place on the 27th of 
October at Hatcher's Run, resulting somewhat disas- 
trously to portions of the second and fifth corps, but 

42 



494 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

not affecting materially the relative position of either 
army. 

Gen. P. H. Sheridan, having been appointed com- 
mander of the Union forces in the Shenandoah Yal- 
ley, signalized his entrance upon his duties by a series 
of assaults, which resulted in the complete discom- 
fiture of the enemy under Gen. Early, the capture of 
most of their baggage and artillery, and the scattering 
of their forces among the mountains. The great vic- 
tory he gained on the 19th of October, snatching tri- 
umph from what seemed to be an overwlielming 
disaster, was one of the most remarkable achievements 
of the war. At daylight, the Union left was turned, 
and, soon after, the whole line forced back in confusion, 
with a loss of twenty pieces of artillery, liundreds of 
prisoners, and a large number of wagons. From morn- 
ing until noon, every thing went against the Federal 
forces. Gen. Sheridan was at Winchester when the 
fighting commenced : but, pushing rapidly forward, he 
arrived on the field at noon ; at once arrested the tide 
of disaster ; and, at three o'clock, assaulted the rebel 
lines with such impetuosity, that they were broken at 
every point ; artillery, cavalry, and infantry routed 
indiscriminately, forty-three cannon captured, and a 
large number of prisoners secured. This success was 
followed up the next day with such vigor, that Gen. 
Early's army was completely routed and disorganized, 
leaving the Union forces in quiet possession of the 
Shenandoah Valley from Harper's Ferry to Strasburg 
during the rest of the year. 

After an unsuccessful attack upon Fort Fisher in 
December, 1864, another was made on Saturday and 
Sunday, the 14th and 15th of January following, which 



CAPTURE OF WILMINGTON. 495 

resulted favorably. The fort, all the adjoining works, 
nearly one hundred heavy guns, and over two thou- 
sand prisoners, were captured, and Wilmington effec- 
tively sealed against blockade-runners. 

On the 22d of February following, the city itself 
fell into the hands of Gens. Schofield and Terry, by 
whom, in conjunction with the fleet of Admiral Porter, 
it had been previously assaulted ; and seven hundred 
prisoners, thirty siege-guns, and a large supply of am- 
munition and stores, came into the possession of the 
victors. 

On the 27th of February, Gen. Sheridan started 
from Winchester with his indefatigable cavaliers on a 
raid down the Shenandoah Yalley towards Lynchburg, 
and thence to Richmond. He succeeded in inflicting 
an immense amount of damage upon the enemy, cap- 
turing guns, prisoners, and much booty ; and finally 
effected a junction with Gen. Grant's army in the vi- 
cinity of Petersburg. 

On Saturday morning, March 25, a fierce assault by 
four rebel divisions was made upon the right wing of 
the Union army, resulting in the capture of Fort Stead- 
man and most of the garrison, including Brig.-Gen. 
N. B. McLaughlin, the former colonel of the First 
Regiment. A sanguinary engagement ensued, during 
which the fort was recaptured, and the Federal lines 
re-established as they had been before. The loss to 
the enemy was large, including nearly two thousand 
prisoners. The Union loss was one hundred and sixty- 
six killed, twelve hundred and one wounded, and seven 
hundred and thirteen missing. 

The most critical period in Gen. Lee's fortunes had 
now arrived. Having failed to turn the Union right, 



496 THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 

he saw that he must abandon Richmond, or be shut 
up in it, and surrounded on all sides by the Federal 
forces. He at once attempted to depart by the only 
road left open to him ; but it was too late. The Union 
cavalry had preceded him ; and, on the 1st of April, he 
was admonished by the desperate battle at Big Five 
Forks that his doom was settled. 

On the next day, the intrenchments of Petersburg 
were carried at the point of the bayonet, and on Mon- 
day morning, April 3, at fifteen minutes past eight, the 
stars and stripes were waving in the streets of Rich- 
mond. 

It took but a short time to dispose of the army of 
Gen. Lee, and, with it, of the Rebellion for which it 
had so vainly fought. From Richmond to Burkesville, 
whither the rebels retreated, the roads were strown 
with muskets, knapsacks, wagons, and artillery ; show- 
ing how completely they were demoralized. At Amelia 
Court House, they remained a couple of days, and then, 
in attempting to retreat towards Lynchburg, were 
brought to a stand at Deatonsville ; where they fought 
their last battle on Thursday, the 6th of April, losing 
thirteen thousand men taken prisoners, one lieutenant- 
general, and seven major-generals, with several bat- 
teries, and hundreds of wagons. The day after the 
battle. Glen. Grant humanely wrote to Gen Lee, pro- 
posing terms of surrender to avoid further useless effu- 
sion of blood. After some correspondence, the terms 
were accepted ; and on Palm Sunday, the 9th of April, 
1865, Gen. Lee surrendered, with all his men and 
munitions of war ; thus virtually putting an end to the 
Rebellion, and placing the seceded States at the mercy 
of the Union authorities in Washington. The Army 



THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC DISBANDED. 497 

of the Potomac was soon after disbanded, and its 
various regiments transported to the States whence 
they had come. 

The following catalogue of officers and men con- 
nected with the First Regiment is copied from the mus- 
ter-rolls in Adj. -Gen. Schouler's office at the State 
House, Boston, Mass. There may be some mistakes in 
dates, and in the spelling of names and places, but it 
is believed to be in the main correct. 










00- 



SS'E 



•00 CO 5^ Too cTl' 

? • -d _,"" -- O "« rH 

^oSi^S '-^-^ 

TOO) ^^ .^^ « "O 
si 32 'S 3 . '^ "S -^ 

cq g o S 






o . 

J2 gvg 

to . 












r-l oi 






S o o-TS"^ o cq 



bJo 



CO ft 
o o 
.20 






^00 









^.-o 



WS ^c 



- 'Oait.>J6o®3 ' 

.2 3H'Ss-^o' 



.2 SH'^ 3- 



5*3 2J 



oO 3 o 
cc '. --^U 



I I I I I Is I I I I I I I I I ^ I I lli 



I I CD CD. 



I I 



I I I I-SI I I I i I 

Em 



I I I 



-51 



^< 






P>. 



O CO 

Q 3 

SH.2 

o'tn 



a>' 



;o2 



C3 ^ 

goajcso.t^ o 2 

_ Pn ?q g Q 23 ^__cq eq_ 



O O 

l«jq 



S"? 



• >» • 

el 3 Pl 
Oja o . 

CO >^ CO ' 

000 



C^ ,-1 (N CONOOOiClOMOJOOCO t-l-~(N WW(NO}<MNC^ Ci CO (O <■£> 

Oi C-* W C<5 (M C-Jt-h (NOJ <N N W (N (M (N (N CM (N 0< IN 

. .1 g 

Is 

o fco- - 3 - - 

• • ^ 2 , 

§ . «i fH S. I . t'S 



^ O 









c t« > 

Jr !^ r^T 



►-5 

. . oT . . . . 

S 3 t" 



d 

lip 

ii_ boo 
^ =« J; S 



I 

* * * ^*. *. 

C02 CO fc. 00 00 

1-^ T-, cjrH^ r-l 

"f CO ^ fs" . ^ 
cj:: 5 3 ci-r c3 

I" Mill" 






•2^ 



I _ ID i^ 



- ; O ^* O . o 
, g O o >. (^J ►> 

I ccg:^ ^ .00 . 



CO 



0) 






c3 cs -'■^ CJ <« oj ^ 



F=( CO _ 

o -^ 

ga-3 

gg-2tf-Si^c 
I Q O • ■« aJ -li 



<v 
*. o S 



^ S Jc « .2 ^ -2 
*j *j jj -^ 3 -u 0) 



I I I I I i I I I I I III I II llg I II I! I Mill 



I I I I I I I I I I I 1^1 I Mil 



II II II II M I 



3 CO « S a— I 

35 f^oQ»5 



o- ^ 



C3 O fc, O 

rxjcqaa eg 



.C O 
OOP 



"SccX'/j" o r^to" X'oJ 
^ O O O fc, O O Ox3 



a . 

O 33 



^a 



. .s 

- - 00- - - 



?^< 



J5 NC^:^(N<N (NC<C<01C<M ?<WC^'-"M^ rt«'^-H 



WJ-g, ^ 



<1cQ O^ i-sco S<i^ 



.a 






> <U O cS 

,«^o 






ss-s e 



CD 



O o3 



i IS ^ 



*^ s s s 
> o » a< , : . 



-5^ <JO^OOO P=,S^^^ 



c o o o iJ T 



w^t;; cDCacn a>j2'"<»uj 

^K^f=^Sf^^^l-5^^ 0-5O0-5 



I s -^ h4 

: «i f '" 



t>? 






o 5 



.2tMiSS 



't h ii c 



= 13 fl 
> o o 



o2 



* * 

CO- 



es9 



*.* 

to- 
00 ■• 



♦ # # * * 



CO ?o 

^00 



N 



2 of CO 



00 *^ . 



- - 00- - 



'S^ 



>. ~- ^ o 









^ ft- 
• I ^E^ 

re = 



CO 1^ 



CO ~ 
5 a '^ a '"^ " " S. '^^ 



l|l I I l|' I I I I I I I I I j| I I I l| I I I I I I I I I I I 



S^ 



|i 



l-g I 






I I I I i I I i i| 



I I I lg<i I I I I I I I I I I 



III 
ill 



. &D . 



. <v 



0) 



jDO- «. ,— ^ — _ 

«oq MM ' 



3 a 
o o 



1 OX! O- 



."::; o^"^ tn o ci o 



h 

^00 ce^ o q o ox: 



5 o 

Qeq 



O tn 

o a 



ft 



-■'--' c»- 






I 0< rt O 'N 



ic'*^ "^ws"^ "S ^ •«'«' ifTic^ys CD i^ ccTco j.rcroo 



6J3 ^ti +^j£ >> 
3 a 3 o oj * 









fe O S O <S S S 03.^X3 O.^ O^-.^ OS d 3 >;i^ O ix!:5,SS 3^5 ^a ucn° 




~ « .» - -^ OJ 

-rH ,_ M T- ,-( ;;; 






3 S CO S - <a "^ 



«- :: 3 :: 3 :: 

13 



S- 






g ^ 



I I I I I I l| I I 1 li I I 



I I I I I I I I I I I .^ I I 



O M 



a d 3 fl 
o o o o 












co<3iT-(C?oO't;rt0500QOto,-ieji-H 



CM THr-l CM IN 



coco 






5 O) 5 <!' iJtS 






; CO A 
I o o 



gT3 ^ 



_ « J3 CI 



502 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 



ENLISTED MEN. 



Names. 



Noil. Com. Stair. 

Frank W. Marshall, S. Major 
Wm. F. Thayer, Com.Sergeaut 
Hiram A. Wright, Q. M. Serg't 
Alfred C. Dana, Hospital Ste'd 
Lorenzo B. Hull, Frin. Mus. 
Wm. N. Hart, " 

Discharged and Died. 
John B. Gibbs, Com. Sersfeant 
James H. Hall, Sergeant-Major 
Charles C. Cooke, Frin. Mus. 
James M. Lewis, " " 
Joseph H. Dalton, Q. M. Serg't 
Alfred A. Swallow, " " 
Wm. C. Manning, Serg't-Major 
Edwin C. McFarland, " 
Harrison Hinckley, C. Sergeant 
Edward C. Carroll, Frin. Mus. . 
James G. Miller, Q. M. Sergeant 

Company A. 

George H. Stone, 1st Sergeant . 

William F. Daymon, Sergeant . 

James Field, " 

James Miles, " 

John H. Miner, " 

Abner Blackburn, Corporal 

John C. Singer, " 

William F. Butler, " 

Charles B. Connor, " 

George W. Funk 

Henry H. Mingle, Musician 

George H. Allen, " 

Anderson, John 

Carter, Frank 

Chamberlin, E. D. 

Calagher, Michael 

Chapman, Henry 

Dwyar, Charles A. 

Davis, James A. 

Evans, George A. 

Gregory, William 

Griggs, John B. 

Green, Charles 

Harvey, Martin 

Hatch, Charles H. 
Hughes, William 
Kelley, Daniel G. 
Lynch, John . 
Lamb, Frank . 
Mcintosh, Charles H 
Mullery, Michael P 
McGratli, Tcrrence 
Muller, William 
Muldenny, John 
Sears, Eliplialet 
Tebbetts, Scwell F. 
Williamson, Hiram . 
Waterman, Augustus 



Memarhs. 



Must'd out. May 28, '64. App. Apr. 1, '63. 



Jan. 1. '64. 
May 25, '61. 



Causes. 
Disability, July 1, 1S61. 
Reduced to ranks, Aug. 6, 18G2, in Co. B. 
Disability, July 1, 1861. 
All records lost. 
Second Lieut., May 23, 1862. 
Died of dis'eat Har'nsLan'g,July.30, '62. 
Major Colored Troops, Feb. 20, 1863. 
Capt. Colored Troops, March 5, 1863. 
Second Lieut., March 1, 1863. 
Disability, 1862. No date. 
Capt. Colored Troops, March 5, 1863. 



Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 



(( (( (( u 

Taken prisoner, May 12, 1864. 
Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 



Detached as clerk at gen. headq'rt'rs. 
Sick when the reg't was mustered out. 
Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 



Sick, &c. 

Away wounded when the regiment was 

mustered out. 
Mustered out. May 25, 1864. 
Missing in action, May 6, 1864. 
Away wounded. May 12, 1864. 
Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 



Absent; missing in action. May 6, 1864. 



iJJ^LISTED MEN— COMPANY A, 



503 



Natriesi, 



MemarJcs. 



Discharged. 

William Gibson, 1st Sergeant . 18 

Daniel E. Connor, " . 28 

Frederick E. Dolbeare, " .23 

Frederick W. Stowe, Sergeant . 241 

James M. Johnston, " . 23! 

Henry Mclntire, Corporal . 28 

James G. Miller, " . 37 

James A. Pratt, " . ;22 

Cornelius Crowley, " . 2-i 

Edward C. McFarland" . 18 

James W. Lewis, Musician . ;20 

John H. Whitney, " . — 

Daniel T. Carney, Wagoner . 20 

Abrams, William . . .26 

Abrams, John . . .18 

Archer, Thomas . . .22 

Bailey, George A. . . . 22 

Butler, Nicholas . . . i27 

Bowes, William . . . |40 

Cochran, William F. . . 25 

Cowdin, Robert G. . . . '25 

Conant, George W. T. . . 20 

Crane, George B. . . . 30 

Chase, William P. . . .20 

Gates, Charles D. . . .19 

Daniels, Edward S. . . .29 

Day, Samuel E. . . .25 

Delaney, Patrick F. . . . 30 

Emerson, William . . .30 

Ferris, Jacob A. . . .21 

Feogg, Daniel L. . . .44 

Gilman, Luther . . .25 

Grimm, Francis C. . . .25 

Griggs, Charles D. . . . — 

Gaffney, Michael . . .23 

Harper, Charles H. . . .26 

Hinckley, Harrison . . .32 

Hogan, Martin • . .22 

Jewell, William H. . . .20 

Kelley, Thomas . . . — 

Law, Emerson W. . . .21 

Manery, William J. . . . 21 

McCrillis, Francis A. . .22 

Mcintosh, Frank H. . .21 

Miller, James M., Corporal . 26 

Monroe, James A., " . 19 

Muzzey, Daniel P. . . .24 

Miles, John L. . . .44 

Fierce Benjamin F. . . .32 

Powers, David . . .25 

Roberts, John E. . . .19 

Rosemond, George E. . . 29 

Rivers, Charles . . .21 

Singer, George W. . . .21 

Stebbins, Samuel W. . .28 

Stoddard, George W. . .29 

Smith, John . . . .24 

Thayer, Clarence H. . .21 
Trask, Frank .... 
Washburn, William, Jr. . 
Washburn, Andrew J,, Sergeant, 
Withington, John C. 



Causes of Discharge. 
Capt. 35th Regiment, Aug. 14, 1862. 
Disability, Jan. 7, 1863. 
2d Lieut., July 24, 1863. 
2d Lieut., 1st Heavy Artillery, Feb., 1862. 
Disability, Sept. 27, 1802. 
Serg't, Nov. 1, '62 ; disability, Dec. 31, '62. 
2d Lieut., N. C. C. Vols., Sept. 1, 1863. 
Capt., 54th Regiment, March 5, 1863. 
Disability, July 1, 1861. 
2d Lieut., March 1, 1863. 
Disability, July 1,1861. 

" Oct. 22. 1862. 

" July 1, 1861. 

•• Sept. 1, 1862. 

•' Jan. 7, 1863. 

" April 28, 1863. 

" Jan. 20, 1864. 

" Jan. 7, 1863. 

" Sept. 12, 1863. 
2d Lieut., 28th Regiment, July 1, 1863. 
2d Lieut., 31st N. Y. Regiment. 
Disability, Oct. 17, 1862. 

" July 1, 1862. 
2d Lieut., 3d N. C. C. Vols., Oct. 30, '63. 
Disability, Oct. 23, 1862. 
Corp., March 1, '62; disabilitv,Oct.4,'62. 
2d Lieut., 3d N. C. C. Vols., Oct. 19, '63. 
Disability, Jan. 1, 1863. 

Oct. 31, '62 ; Capt.N. C. C. Vols. 

" Sept. 28, 1862. 
Nov. 22, 1862. 

" Sept. 16, 1862. 

" July 1, 1861. 

" Sept. 2, 1862. 

" Dec. 18, 1862. 

" Oct. 2, 1862. 
2d Lieut., Aug., 1863. 
Disability, Aug. 1, 1861. 
2d Lieut., o8lh Regiment, Aug. 1, 1862. 
Disability, Dec. 1, 1862. 
Oct. 11, " 

" April 6, 1864. 

'' July 9, 1863. 

" March 5, 1864. 
2d Lieut., 3d N. C. C. Vols., Oct. 19, '63. 
Sec'd Lt. 3d N. C. C. Vols., Oct. 19, 1863. 

<' " 22dRegiraent, Aug. 1, 1862. 
DisabiUty, Sept. 25, 1863. 

" Dec. 26, 1862. 

«' July 1, 1861. 



" May 1, 1862. 

Sec'd Lt., 3d N. C. C. Vols., Oct. 19, '63. 
Disability, July 1, 1861. 



Second Lieut., March 2, 1863. 

" " Aug. 1, " 

" " 35th Reg't, Jan. 24, 1864. 

Sec'd Lt., 3d N. C. C. Vols., Oct. 19, 1863. 
Disability, March 10, 1863. 



504 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 



Names, 


S) JRemarhs. 


Withington, James C. . -^ 


18 Sec'd Lt., 3d N. C. C. Vols., Oct. 19, '63. 


Whitefield, Horace E. 


24 u u u » » 


Woodworth, Isaac M. 


23 Disability, Feb. 7, 1864. 


Transferred. 


To what Organization. 


Adams, John H. . . . 


23 Eleventh Massachusetts, May 18, 1864. 
36 " " ^« " 


Brown, John .... 


Delancy, James A. . 


29 <' '< '< " 


Funk, Joseph W. . 


20 " " " " 


Hayward, John R. . 


25 Veteran Reserve Corps, March 31, 1864. 


Johnston, Joseph . 


37 Eleventh Massachusetts, May 18, 1864. 


Johnson, Lysander K. 


34 u u u ti 


King, James .... 


18 Veteran Reserve Corps, Nov. 1, 1863. 


Langley, Alonzo B. 


22 Fourth U. S. Artillery, Oct. 19, 1862. 


Lewis Leonard 


31 Eleventh Massachusetts, May 18, 1864. 


McClusky .Francis . 
Reardon, Patrick . 


18 ■« .< ' i. ' u 


22 Veteran Reserve Corps, April 14, 1864. 


Serenge, William . 


26 Eleventh Massachusetts, May 18, 1864. 


Turner, Fergus B. . • 


20 Veteran Reserve Corps, July 1, 1863. 


Whitney, Charles H. 


20 " u u u u 


Died. 


Causes of Death. 


Baker, Thomas A. . 


28 Died in Hospital, Nov. 26, 1862. 


Evans, Henry 
Donahue, John 




24 Killed at Gettyburg, July 2, 1863. 
30 Missing at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. 




Finley, Henry, 
Francis, Joseph 




18 Killed at Glendale, June 30, 1862. 




— " Williamsburg, May 5, 1862. 


Getchell, John F. 




22 Died of disease, Feb. 3, 1863. 


Getchell, Lewis G. 




20 Killed at Fair Oaks, June 25, 1862. 


Grover, Curtis W. 




- " Williamsburg. 


Harper, Joseph 




24 Died of disease. May 17, 1862. 


Hutchins, Lewis 




30 Killed at Wilderness, May 6, 1864. 


Martin, John . 




30 Killed at second Bull Run, Aug. 24, 1862. 


O'Dea, John . 




24 " Glendale, June 30, 1862. 


Phelps, Julius A. 




24 " Glendale, June 30, 1862. 


Parkes, George W. 




18 " Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. 


Pettis, John . 




45 " " July 21, 1863. 


Ready, John C. 




23 Died of wounds, June 25, 1862. 


Robinson, John T. 




26 '« " July 17, 1863. 

20 Killed at Williamsburg, May 5, 1862. 


Tower, Charles W. 




Trowbridge, William H. . 


19 Died on picket ; date unknown. 


Turner, Joseph W. 


25 Died of disease, June 21, 1862. 


Deserted. 


Date of Desertion. 


Carlton, Thomas A., Corporal . 


24 Sept. 1, 1862. 
18 July 1, 1862. 


Baxter, Benjamin W. 


Fogerty, John I. . . . 


30 Sept. 1, 1862. 


Ford Moses .... 


40 Aug., 1861. 


Kilkenny, James 


21 Aug. 1, 1863. 


McClusky, Dennis . 


20 Sept., 1861. 


Naumburg, Alexander 


19 Nov., 1862. 


Saunders, Joseph . . . 


37 May 6, 1864, in face of the enemy. 


O'Shaughnessy, Patrick . 


27 Feb., 1863. 


SulUvan, John 


26 April, 1863. 


Turnbull, David 


18 June, 1861. 


Coinpauy B. 




Richard F. Irish, 1st Sergeant . 


24 Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 


George Murphy, Sergeant 
George A. Howe, " . 


25 " u • {. ' u 


23 '< <« " " 


John A. Irving, " 


26 " " " '• 


Henry B. Sellon, 


" • .| 


20 " " '• " 



Eir LISTED MEN— COMPANY B. 505 


i Names. 


bo 

< 

23 


Metnarhs. 


Joseph T. Wilson, Corporal 


Mustered out, May 25, 18G4. 


Nathaniel M. Allen, " 


21 


" «< <( (( 


Georo:e W. H. Burbeck, " 


20 


«' U i< (1 


Vyilliam B. Simmons, " 


20 


U 1( 11 (( 


' George Barry, " 


20 


U i< U (t 


Stephen B. Danforth, " 


21 


(( U l< u 


William Y. Wallace, Musician . 
Cyrus K. Thomas, Wagoner 


25 


(( u i; (( 


26 


<< u c< u 


Brown, William H. 


22 


(( t( <( (( 


Brown, Henry H. . 




20 


Away wounded, when reg'tmuster'dout. 


i Campbell, John 






24 


Mustered out. May 25, 18(54. 


Chase, Lewis W. 






26 


Absent sick, whenreg't mustered out. 


Coffin, George N. 






27 


Mustered out, May 25, 18G4. 


\ Corson, Charles H. 




. 


22 


U 11 U n 


Drurly, John . 






22 


(( IC <( u 


Duran, Beecher L. 






19 


u u a (( 


Elkins, Robert G. 






23 


U U U (( 


Giles, James . 






37 


It U (( u 


Hill, Horace L. 




• 


34 


(( (( (( u 


1 Hittenheim, Charles 


'l. 




24 


<( IC C< 1( 


Haascom, George 






21 


U t< il l< 


Hamblin, Allen T. 






23 


(( U U (( 


Kelley, James 






24 


U (< (( «t 


Lannarv, James J. 






30 


(( U (( (( 


Lewis, Asa P. 






22 


(( u u u 


Lovejoy, Walter 




• 


22 


Away wounded. 


McKenna, Andrew C 






25 


Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 


McISTulty, James 






35 


« U U (( 


Morley, James 






29 


l( u c U 


Misena, Edward A. 




. 


19 


" " '< " 


Nutter, Joseph E. 






21 


a u u <( 


O'Neil, Garvett 






45 


t( u u (( 


Prince, Zelotes 






33 


(( <( U (( 


! Smith, Lewis G. 






42 


(< (( (< << 


Underwood, John S 






24 


Away sick, when reg't was mustered out 
Away wounded, in hospital. 


Varney, Seth P. 






34 


Discharged. 




Causes of Discharge. 


Armstrong, James, Sergeant 


29 


Disability, Feb. 2, 18^3. 


Annis, Mark C. 


45 


" June 16, 1863. 


Battis, George G. W. 


20 


(( U li 


Battis, William S. . 


29 


" July, 1861. 


Broaders, Frederick W. 


43 


" April 19, 1863. 


Brown, Aaron A. . 


21 


" May 15, 


Brown, Edwin T. . 


20 


Com. in U. S. Col. Vols, March 2, 1863. 


Butler, Henry B. . . . 


20 


Disability, Nov. 26, 1862. 


Christian, Ferrier V., Corporal, 


20 


Dec. 31, 


Conant, Estes 


28 


" July, 1861. 


Cook, George C. . 


19 


" no date. 


1 Cutler, John D. . . . 


18 


'« Aug., 1861. 


Collins, Thomas E. . 


23 


" Dec, 1862. 


Condon, Michael 


.30 


" March 24, 1864. 


Coughlin, Daniel 

Chains, George II., Corporal 


36 


'' Jan. 1, 1864. 


28 


'« June, 1862. 


Dalton, Joseph H. . 


20 


Second Lieut., May 29, 1862. 


Dakin, Leonard A. . 


26 


Disability, Aug., 1861. 


Deugan, William F. 


27 


" " 1862. 


Downing, Richard . 


25 


" Oct., 1862. 


Dunbar ,'Abr am M. . 


27 


" July, 1861. 


1 Dailey, Jeremiah 


40 


May 1, 1864. 


Ewer, John T. 


27 


" Oct., 1861. 


Fisher, Henry 
Fletcher, William H. 


23 


" Aug., " 


20 


Second Lieut., Aug. 30, 18G2. 


Goodwin, Daniel 


24 


Disability, Dec. 27, 1862. 


43 











506 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT, 



Names. 



Goodwin, Thomas . 

Graham, James W. 

Gray, Harry . 

Greeley, Henry 

Garney, John 

Hatch, Augustus, Sergeant 

Hatch, Theodore, " 

Hayward, William E. " 

Higgins, James 

Holmes, Jacob F., Corporal 

Hull, William C. . • . 

Jenkins, Luke E. . 

Keller, Frederick J. 

Keith, Charles B. . . . 

Kimball, Joseph E. 

Knowlton, William H. 

Lawson, James 

McKay, John B. . . . 

McKee, Daniel F. . 

McLeod, John T. . 

Morgan, Charles F. 

Mahanney, Dennis . 

Munroe, Charles 

McNickels, Daniel F. 

North, James M. . 

Parkinson, Henry, 1st Sergeant. 

Paine, Joseph E. . . . 

Pierce, Henry 

Robbins, Milton, Corporal . 

Heed, David . . . . 

nice, Joseph H. . . . 

Kowell, Harriff 

Eobbius Joseph W. 

Sellou, Samuel E. 

Smith, William A. . 

Stevenson^ Daniel D. 

Sullivan, Ceorge W. 

Thompson, David P., Corporal . 

TurnbuU, James P. 

Verge, Joseph A., 1st Sergeant . 

West, William A., Corporal 

Wood, John F. . . . 

Young, John . , . . 



Transferred. 

Beyer, John A. 

Doherty, William 

Lane, David . 

Wood, James R. 

Jones, David . 

Drown, Charles E., Corporal 

Daley, Dennis 

Parmenter, Artemas 

Roach, Cornelius 
Soper, William 
Parker, William H. 
Wright, Edward J. 
Hull, Lorenzo B., JMusiciau 
Brown, Charles H. . 



Memai'Teg, 



Disability, Aug., 1862. 

" Sept., 1861. 
Medical Cadet, Oct. 18, 1861. 
Disability, Aug., 1861. 

" Feb. 19, 1863. 
Discharged to accept commission. 
Disability, May 9, 1863. 
Second Lieut., Aug. 21, 1862. 
Disability, Aug., 1861. 

" 18, 1863. 

" May 10, 1862. 
Com. in 2d Mass. Heavy Art. Jan. 1, '64. 
Disability, Aug., 1861. 

" Feb. 20, 1863. 
Com. in colored regiment, Jan. 10, 1864. 
Disability, Oct. 10. 1862. 
July, 1861. 

<' April 3, 1863. 

" Dec. 27, 1862. 

" July 20, 1861. 

" Nov. 8, 1862. 

" April 3, 1863. 

" May 10, 1862. 

" April 19, 1863. 

Commission in U. S. Vols., July, 1863. 
Second Lieut., Aug. 26, 1861. 
Disability, July 20, 1861. 

" Aug., 1861. 

» Oct. 18, 1862. 

" May 10, 1862. 

*' July 28, 1861. 

" Nov. 7, 1863. 

" July 28, 1861. 
Asst. Engineer in Navy, Sept., 1861. 
Disability, Aug., 1801. 

" May 10, 1862. 

" Dec, 1802. 

" Sept., 1861. 

" Nov. 26, 1862. 

" March 29, 1864. 

" Aug., 1801. 

'' Jan. 9, 1863. 



To what Organization. 

Veteran Reserve Corps, 1803. 

" " " Nov., 1863. 

«« " " Dec. 13, 1863. 

6th U. S. Cavalry, Oct., 1861. 
11th Massachusetts, May 20, 1864. 
11th Mass., May 20, 1864; Corporal Aug. 

1, 1861; re-enlisted Jan. 2, 1864. 
11th Mass., May 20, 1864; Corporal, Aug. 

1, 1861; re-enlisted Jan. 3, 1864. 
11th Mass., May 20, 1864 : Corporal, Aug. 

1, 1861; re-enlisted Jan, 4, 1864. 
11th Mass., May 20, 1864. 

(( (( u 

(I (( (' 

H.Q. Army Potomac; sent'efordesert'n. 
Principal Musician, Feb. 22, 1863. 
Veteran Reserve Corps, Dec 1, 1863. 



ENLISTED 


MEN— COMPANY C. 


507 


Names, 


i 

1 


ItemarJcs. 


Died. 


Causes of Death. 




Irving, James 


>\ 


Died of wounds, June 25, 1862. 




Bicknell, Alvah . ." . 


20 


Killed at 2d Bull Run, Va., Aug. 29 
Died of disease at Boston, Sept., 180 


'62. 


Conn, George T. B. 


;^ 


3. 


Glover, Thomas L. . 


!21 


Died of wounds, Sept. 5, 1862. 




Redding, James 


2-Z 


Killed at Williamsburg, Va., 3Lay 5, 
" Chancellorsville, Va., May 3 


'62. 


Ftobbins, Charles T. 


19 


'63. 


Whipple, Edward E., Corporal . 


20 


Died of dis., at Baltimore, Md., Sept. 
Killed at 2d Bull Run, Va., Aug. 29, 


'63. 


Smith, George E , . 


•20 


62. 


Eaton, David H. . . . 


30 


Died of wounds, Aug. 15, 1863. 




Golden, George 


35 


;; July 13, " 
" " Aug. 10, " 




Keslaud, Jacob 


29 




Noyes, Charles H. . 


22 


" disease, at New York, Sept, 


62. 


Trim, George D. . . . 


18 


Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 


Launder, John 


18 


Died of disease, at Boston, Ms., Sept. 


'63. 


Deserted, 




Date of Desertion. 




Snow, Thomas, Corporal . 


23 


Fort Albany, Va., Aug., 1861. 




Snow, Stephen D. . 


19 


Falmouth, Va., Jan. 30, 1863. 




Clough, Horatio E., 1st Sergeant, 


2(5 


While on furlough, March, 1863. 




Getchell, Miuot D. . 


20 


In face of the enemy, July 21, 1863. 




Brigham, Charles G. 


18 


1st Bull Run, July 22, 1861. 




Davis, Lewt'llyu V. . 


26 


Cambridge, Mass., June, 1861. 




Flack, Henry .... 


23 


Fair Oaks, Va., June, 1862. 




Hallahan. Edward . 


IS 


Fair Oaks, Va., June, 1862. 




Lord, William H. . . . 


21 


Cambridge, Mass., June, 1861. 




Keith, Sullivan H. . 


20 


Alexandria, Va., Aug., 1862. 




McDonald, William H. . 


24 


Budd's Ferry, Md., Jan., 1862. 




Newman, Jeremiah J. 


24 


Bladensburg, Md., Oct., 1861. 




Ordway, Franklin J. 


28 


Falmouth, Va., Jan. 30, 1863. 




Ordway, George W. 

Page, George H. . . . 


19 


In face of the enemy, Dec. 12, 1862. 




21 


Cambridge, Mass., June, 1861. 




Rice, Samuel R. . . . 


24 


Falmouth, Va. Dec, 1862. 




Missing in Action. 








Lightbody, John 


19 


Gettysburg, Penu., July 2, 1863. 




Company C. 








Benjamin F. Mead., 1st Sergeant, 


33 


Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 




John A. Duddy, Sergeant 


24 


Away sick, when reg'twas muster'd 


3Ut. 


George Bowden, " 


21 


Mustered out, May 25, 18(>4. 




James H. Powers, " 


25 


n. u (( a 




Ebenezer B.Nichols, " 


25 


u 11 a u 




Edward Doherty, Corporal 


32 


(( (( ti u 




John H. G. Munroe, " 


20 


(( il u u 




Thomas Carnell, " 


26 


(( (( U l( 




Thomas H. Rees, " 


22 


(( (( U (( 




Parron C. Paine, " 


26 


I< U <( l( 




Horatio N. Robinson, " 


22 


K i( li (( 




Joseph J. Welch, Musician 


19 


(( ;( (( << 




Anthony C. Rivers, " 


32 


11 (1 (( it 




Bigelow, Emerson . 


44 


11 u a i( 




Brackett, .Joshua A. 


35 


i( (( <( il 




Brown, Edward C. . 


22 


il U il 11 




Bass, John M. ... 


22 


U I( «i il 




Campbell, George S. 


24 


11 i( ti li 




Callahan, James 


32 


It (( (c (( 




Chambei-lain, John . 


42 


,1 li a it 




Cunningham, Michael 


40 


U (( u « 




Currant, Sylvanus . 


25 


i( 11 it it 




Dixon, William 


Z7 


(1 II i< If 





508 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 



Nmnes. 


< 

42 


MetnarUs. 


Dorrans, John 


Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 


Dwyer, John .... 


28 


(C u u u 


Estabrook, William H. 


18 


(( (( a c( 


Fay, Maicellus E. . 


19 


11 U U It 


Fitzgerald, Thomas 


21 


t< u << tc 


Flynn, Kobcrt 


21 


(( (( (1 a 


Glover, Georoje H. . 


20 


Away wounded, whenreg't was mus. out 


Goodspeed, Benjamin 


37 


u u u t' 


Good, James .... 


20 


Mustered out, May 25, 1804. 


Haley, Patrick 


20 


.( (( U (.(. 


Hoffman, John H. . 


21 


U li (« li 


Holland, Timothy . 


20 


<1 t( <( u 


Kennedy, Isaac S. . 


27 


C( (( l( C( 


Kennedy, Patrick . 


28 


(( (( (( (( 


Murphy, John J. 


19 


(( (C (( (( 


McElory, James 


27 


(( « - u u 


Mclnnis, Gordon 


19 


<( C( (1 (( 


Neal, John A. ... 


20 


<( (( <( (( 


Onthank, Ares M. . 


18 


(( (( u << 


Packard, Henry 


48 


Away sick, when regt. was muster'd out. 


Reading, Samuel B. 


20 


u <s a u 


Reynolds, William H. 


28 


Mustered out, May 25. 1864. 


Richards, John 


35 


u H 14 a 


Smith, Robert B. . . . 


25 


c: a a a 


Swain, George W. . 


19 


a a a a 


Tow, William T. 


40 


a 11 a (( 


Tuells, Elijah 


40 


a a a a 


Ward, Ephraim 


40 


a a a a 


Waters, James N. . 


27 


a a a a 


Williams, Tbomas F. 


25 


a a a a 


Discharged. 




Causes of Discharge. 


Isaac H. Tones, 1st Sergeant 


37 


Disability, July, 1861. 


Edward W. Delany, Sergeant . 


28 


a a a 


John S.Clark, " 


29 


To receive a commission, Dec, 1862. 


Thomas E. Brackett, " 


31 


Disability, July, 1861. 


George A. Teuney, 1st Sergeant, 


19 


." Oct. 28, 1863. 


Edward A. Swett, Sergeant 


29 


" Oct. 14, 1862. 


Amasa P. Johnson, " 


— 


" Oct. 22, 1862. 


David L. Messer, " 


28 


" Jan. 9. 1863. 


David P. West, Corporal . 


24 


" July, 1861. 


Edward B. Current, " 


30 


" Aug., " 


William Lewis, " 


24 


" March 7, 1863. 


Wm. H. Deverson, " 


23 


" Aug. 3, 1862. 


John A. Williams, Wagoner 


34 


" Sept., 1861. 


Alden, James 


23 


July, " . ' 


Alexander, Joseph B. 


31 


Aug., " 


Anderson, John W. 


18 


" Oct. 22, 1862. 


Bradley, John A. . 


21 


" Jan. 9, 1863. 


Bond, Thomas, Jr. . 


24 


" Feb. 27, " 


Burpee, James 


27 


«* Aug., 1861. 


Ball, Thomas . . . . 


29 


" March 13, 1861. 


Blynn, James L. . 


36 


" Aug., 1861. 


Bryant, Caleb 


27 


" July, " 


Brlgham, Charles S. 


42 


" Oct. 7, 1862. 


Benson, William B. 


19 


" Oct. 9, 1862. 


Cormier, Theodore J. W. 


18 


" Records lost. 


Critchett, Joseph B. 


42 


" Oct. 16, 1862. 


Crafts, George G. . 


3ft 


Aug., 1861. 


Fisher, Elbridge 


30 


Jan. 30, 1863. 


Fuller, David S. 


24 


" iVug., 1861. 


Foster, John W. . . . 


24 


a a <( 


Fernald, Tiiaddeus . 


28 


a a a 


Flag„', George E. . . . 


24 


a n a 



ENLISTED MEN — COMPANY C. 



509 



Names, 



Flynn, Lawrence 
Ford, Edward J. 
Fanning, David 
Gallagher, Thomas 
Goodhue, Sumner A. 
Goddard, John J. 
Hatch, William C. . 
Hunneman, John 
Harrington, James G. 
Horn, Eben . 
"Hawkins, Wentworth 
Hollis, Othauiel T. . 
Holbrook, Samuel . 
Knight, George E. . 
Kelley, James 
Keith, Avery F. 
Landgieen, Christian A. 
Mills, John R. 
Minoke, William 
Murphy, Thomas 
McLachliu, John 
Meagher, Thomas . 
Shaw, Albert 
Small, Pembroke W. 
Tilton, Leroy T. 
^Wiley, William 
Walch, John . 
Wellock, Samuel C. 
White, Benjamin H. 



Transferred. 
Eben O. Avery, Sergeant . 
Frederick W. Trowbridge, Corp 
Samuel W. Wharf, Corporal 
Bell,W^illiam J. 
Cross, Isaac . 
Estabrook, William W. 
Garren, George 
Hayes, Alonzo L. 
Pierce, Albion D. . 

Died. 
Edward J. IMcGinnis, Sergeant 
Daniel W. Hale, Wagoner 
George Wright, Musician 
Blessington, Bernard 
Driscoll, Richard J. 
Edwards, Orrin 
Grant, Charles P. . 
Hull, William C . 
Kilivintou. William 
Latimer, William H. 
McCormick, William 
Mahlman, William 
Woods, Charles H. 

Deserted. 
John S. Gould, Sergeant . 
Michael Mealey, '' 
Alexander Boudroux, Corporal 
Frank Stone, Musician 
Coblentz, Robert B. 
43* 



Setnarks. 



Disability, Nov. 26, 1862. 

" March 27, 1863. 

" Records lost. 

" Feb. 2, 1804. 

" Oct. 7, 1862. 

" July, 1861. 

" Oct. 25, 1862. 

" Dec. 1, " 

" Aug. 20, " 

" Aug. 9, 1861. 

" July, 1861. 

" Jan. 24, 1863. 

" Records lost. 

" July, 1861. 

" April, 1862, 

" Oct. 10, 1862. 

" Aug. 1, 1861. 

" Jan. 7, 1864. 

" July 21, 1861. 

" Records lost. 

" Feb. 18, 1863. 

" March 3, " 

" Aug. 1, 1861. 

" Sept., 1861. 
" "22, 1862. 

" Nov. 20, " 

" Dec. 1, " 

" April 10, 1863. 

«• Nov. 4, 1862. 



To lohaf Organization. 
Veteran Reserve Corps, July 1, 1863. 

" " " Jan. 15, 1864. 

Battery K, 4th U. S. Art., Sept., 1862. 
11th Ms., May 20, '64 ; to serve for des'n. 
Veteran Reserve Corps, Sept., 1863. 

" " " Feb. 11, 1864. 

'* " " March 16,1864. 

" " " Sept., 1863. 

Causes of Death. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 
Died of injuries. May, 1862. 
Killed at Glendale, Va., June 30, 1862. 

" Bull Run, Va., Aug. 2y, " 
Died of disease at Baltimore, Aug., 1862. 
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. 
Died of disease, June, 1861. 
Killed at Locust Grove, Nov. 27, 1863. 

" Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, "^ 

Died of disease, Dec. 8, 1862. 
" wounds, Dec. 22, 1862. 
" " July 10, 1863. 

Date of Desertion. 
July 18, 1861. 
Aug. 28, 1862. 
Nov., 1861. 
June 15, 1861. 
Aug., 1861. 



510 



THE FIB ST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 



Names. 



Clough, Robert B . 
Cross, Isaac . 
Cavanaugh, Charles 
Chapman, John B. . 
Crymble, Charles, Jr. 
Doneth, llermau 
Donahugh, Bartholomew 
Desmond, John 
Grimble, Cliarles 
Harding, Josiah 
Hamblin, Cyrus 
Lloyd, Thomas B. . 
Murphy, M. . 
McFarlaud, John 
McCabe, Stephen 
Meader, John F. 
Itoyers, Joseph 
Sullivan, Stephen P. 
Wilkinson, Bichard 
Watson, John 
Zij-zig, William 



Conapaaiy D. 

William Vincent, 1st Sergeant 
Edward Riedell, Sergeant 
Frank T. Balmer, " 
Alfred Hockings, " 
John E. Hickey, " 

Albert G. Packer, Corporal 
George E. Haines, 
William Roland, 
Isaac P. Gragg, 
John I). Pierce, 
John O. Senter, 
Edward W. Lvdston, 
Joseph W. Phillips, Musician 
Charles W. Bardeen, " 
George W. Jordan, Wagoner 
Brooks, John 
Bryant, James 
Benjamin, William N. 
Butler, George H. . 
Baldwin, John H. . 
Buxton, Benjamin F. 
Childs, William H. . 
Chamberlin, Aretes C. 
Cunningham, James 
Donley, William H. 
Dowues, Cliarles H. 
Delastin, William . 
Downes, George W. 
Dean, Charles H. 
l>anforth, Robert K. 
Feyhl, Charles A. . 
Goward, John E. E. 
Gardner, Noyes 
Griggs, Edward W. 
Haslam George M. . 
Hews, Walter 
Hutchinson, Solomon H. 
Kyle, Joseph 
Littletield, Horatio G. 
Macomber, Daniel D. 



Memarhs. 



Sept., 1861. 
Aug., " 
Sept., " 
June 15, 1801, 

July, " 

Sept., " 

June, " 

Aug., " 

June, *' 

Dec. 13, 1862. 
Sept., 1861. 
Records lost. 
June 15, 1861. 
i( <( <( 

Sept. 11, 1862. 
Aug., 1«61. 
Nov., 1862. 
Dec, 1861. 
Records lost. 



Mustered out. May 25, 1864. 



(( u 



ENLISTED MEN — COMPANY D. 



511 



Murray, George 
Macrea, James R. 
Phillips, Josepli M. 
Parker, James G. 
Kichardson, At will 
Kobbius, Asaph. 
Sheperd, William 
Turner, John T. 
Tillson, Charles O. 



Discharged. 
Moses H. Warren, 1st Sergeant 
John S. Willey, Sergeant . 
Thomas M. Miller, " 
James M. Sprague, " 
John G. L. VYliite, " 
Edward C. B. Brown, Corporal 
Robert B, Dunn, " 

Charles A. Lambert, " 

William E. Manning, " 
William R. Rice, " 

Isaac Scott, " 

Zachariah L. Barton, " 
Charles A. S. Hardy, Musician 
Edward Carroll, " 

Abbott, Georg-e W. . 
Andrews, Joseph A. 
Batchelder, Charles F. 
Briggs, Alonzo S. . 
Bennett, George H. 
Berry, John H. 
Blaslan, Gideon 
Bowles, John H. 
Burlingame, Charles W. 
Barnes, Michael 
Cram, Lemuel P. 
Cushman, Zebedee M. 
Cook, William A. 
Claffley, William 
Conway, William H. 
Curley, Thomas 
Co burn, Gridley 
Currier, Elbridge E. 
Estes, Levi 
Foster, Joseph A. . 
Ford, William A. . 
Fleming, William J. 
Fillebrown, Samuel A. 

Fairbanks, John W. 

Gilbert, John 

Graves, Benjamin F. 

Goodwin, Parker 

Gridley, Thomas M. 

George, Daniel E. . 

Hodges, Alonzo 

Hamilton, Robert S. 

Henay, William S. . 

Mansur, James H . 

Manstield, William T. 

Newton, Gilbert 

Nugent, James H. . 

Parks, Joseph W. . 

Piiillips, Preserved B. 

Richards, Aaron H. 



Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 



Causes of Discharge. 
Second Lieut., Feb. IQ, 1802. 

" " July 18, " 

Disability, Nov. 19, 18'J2. 

" June 30, 1803, wounded. 
Commis'd in 5th Mass. Cav., Mar. 13, '64. 
Disability, May 13, 1803, since died. 

" May 30, \mi. 

" Oct. 31, 1803, wounded. 
Sergeant-Major, June 25, 1862. 
Disability, Oct. 17, 1802, wounded, 

" March 3, 1803. 

" Nov. 30, 1802, wounded. 

" May 11, " 
Fife-Major, July 16, 1861. 
Disability, June 24, " 

" May 11, 1862. 

" Aug. 29, 1801. 

It l( u 

Commissioned in 38th Mass., Aug. 26, '62. 
Disability, Sept. 25, 18(i2. 

» Feb. 14, 1803, lost right hand. 

" Mar. 12, " lost left arm. 

" Feb. 14, " 

" April 6, " 

'« Aug. 29, 1801. 

" June 26, 1862, since died. 

" Nov. 22, 1802, lost left arm. 

" Oct. 18, " 

" Jan. 24, 1803. 

" April 20, " 

" July 3, 180.3, wounded. 

Feb. 14, " 

" Aug. 29, 1801. 

(( <( " 

" Oct. 1, 1862, wounded. 

" Mar. 24, 1863, " 

" Aug. 29, 1861. 

" Oct. 22, 1862, since died. 

. " Feb, 3, 1863, wounded. 

" Mar. 13, 1864. 
Aug. 29, 1861. 

" Nov. 19, 18()2, wounded. 

" Nov. 20, " 

" Oct. 4, " 

" Nov. 25, " 

" May 30, " 

" Nov. 20, " 

" Aug. 29, 1861. 

" Jan. 7, 1^63. 

" Aug. 29, 1861. 



512 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 



i 



Names. 



Rhodes, Charles W. C. 
Sampson, Ciiarles M. 
Sherman William F. 
Taylor, Nelson 
Webster, Amos 
Wyatt, John H. 
Wilder, William l\ 
Whall, George F. . 
Warren, Charles A. 
Wiggin, William H, 
Whitten, James B. . 
Whall, William H. H. 
Wright, Hiram A. . 

Transferred. 
Clark, James A. 
CoUeran, Thomas 
Litchfield, George G. 
Mathews, John W. . 
Thomas, Wallace 
Tillson, Oliver A. . 
Young, Joseph 



Memarics. 



. 22 Commissioned in 41st Mass., Nov. 6, '62. 

19 Capt. and A. Q. M., April 16, 1863. 

. 29! Insanity, April 21, 1863. 

. 26 Disability, Oct. 22, 1862, lost left arm. 

. 124 Second Lieut., May 5, 1862. 

. |19| Disability, Sept. 27, 1862. 



. 22 
. !28 
. 18 



Died. 
Charles A. Brazier, 1st Sergeant, 
Seth F. Clark, " " 

Frederick Ran, Sergeant . 
Isaac Williams, " 
George R. Baxter, Corporal 
Stephen Badger, " 

Bemis, William H. 
Bennett, Stedman . 
Calhum, Hugh 
Grey, Aurelius 
Ingraham, He'ctor . 
Kyle, John 
Mathews, James M. 
Miller, Daniel B. . 
Reynolds, Thomas W. 
Shackley, Warren K. 



Deserted. 
Allen, Charles A. 
Cutler, Charles D. . 
Dove, Frank II. 
Palmer, George W. 
Ruggles, Francis E. 
Thorpe, William 



21 
43 

22 

. |21 
. 24 

:lg 

. 21 
. 26 
. il8 
. 126 
. '27 
. 21 
. 21 



Nov. 25, 
Nov. 19, " 
" Feb. 26, 1863. 

" June 4, " since died. 
" June 23, " 

No date, wounded. 
Quartermaster Sergeant, Jan. 1, 1864. 

To loliat Organization. 
11th Mass., to serve for desertion. 

" " May 20, 1864. 
Veteran Reserve Corps, Sept., 1863. 
11th Mass., to serve for desertion. 

" " May 20, 1864. 
Veteran Reserve Corps, Sept., 1863. 



Causes of Death. 
Killed at Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1862. 
Died Dec. 30, 1862, wounded. 
Killed at Glendale, Va., June 30, 1862. 

" Chancellorsville,Va., May 3, '63. 

Died of dis. at Wash'n, D. C , Aug. 20, '61. 

Killed at Bull Run, Va., Aug. 29, 1862. 

Died, dis., Budd's Ferry, Md., Dec. 15, '61. 

Killed at Fair Oaks, Va., June 25, 1862. 
" Glendale, " " 30, " 
" Gettysburg, Fa., July 3, 1863. 

Killed on cars, Groton, Ct., June 15, '61. 

Died of dis., Har'ns L'd'g,Va., Aug. 5, '62. 

Killed at Williamsburg, Va., May 5, '62. 

Date of Desertion. 
Bladensburg, Md., Aug. .30, 1861. 
Hospital, Dec. 31, 1862. 
July 29, 1863. 
Cambridge, Mass., June 11, 1861. 



. 241 Williamsburg, Va., May, 1862. 



Hugh Cumniings, Sergeant 
George T. Baldwin, " 
Francis Duffy, " 

Joseph C. Riley, " 

Charles H. Williaton, Corporal 
John S. Larrabee, 
Amasa G. Smith, 
Charles Herman, 
William B. Johnson, 
Jedediah Strangman, 



Company E. | 

Thomas Strangman, 1st Sergeant, 31 

" ■ ;34 

lis 

28 
19 
22 

^221 

;27; 

119 

22 
21 



Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 



ENLISTED MEN — COMPANY E. 



513 



Names. 


19 


MentarTis, 


Samuel 0. Hebbard, Corporal, . 


Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 


Thomas E. Bates, Musician, 


18 


" '1 (( (1 


Perkins H. Bagley, Jr., " 


16 


«< (( (( 4( 


Alexander, Benjamin D. . 


33 


(( <( <( <l 


Britton, Samuel 




19 


(' U (( (( 


Bird, William G. . 




21 


U 11 (( l( 


Burditt, Charles E. 




21 


'( U II U 


Bassett, Samuel 




18 


a II 11 II 


Bagley, George F. . 




19 


'( II II u 


Barney, Cliarles H. . 




30 


« II II <i 


Cummings, Thomas 




18 


" 11 II II 


Crooker, George H. 




20 


<« 11 (1 « 


Clark, William H. . 




19 


'< U <« 11 


Cantwell, Kobert . 




18 


>i II II II 


Clark, Charles 




24 


<< U II (1 


Carey, Edward 




29 


(1 11 U l( 


Dillaway, George E. 




26 


" " '< '« . 


Edwards, Samuel 


• 


22 


U U 11 II 


Elms, Cornelius 




28 


«< a 11 i( 


Elms, George W. . 




24 


II II (1 i( 


Elms, Rollln N. 




23 


U II 11 II 


Goodrich, Samuel A. 




38 


11 li 11 II 


Gray, William 




35 


41 H l< II 


Howe, Uriah . 




21 


Away woud'd, when regt. was must'd out. 


Jones, Cliarles A. . 




22 


Mustered out. May 25, 1864. 


Kane, Richard W. . 




25 


II (1 I 




Kelley, Michael A. . 




25 


II 11 1 




Kenney, Kobert 




22 


11 (1 1 




Kirkland, Robert . 




29 


11 11 1 




Leatherbee, James D, 




21 


11 II 1 




Locke, James S. 




19 


II II 1 




Lealie, John . 




23 


11 11 1 




Moulton, Samuel 




25 


11 11 « 




Monroe, George S. . 




20 


11 11 1 




Mahony, John 




21 


11 11 1 




Neth, Michael 




25 


11 11 1 




Potter, John . 




21 


II II I 




Potter, Edward 




38 


II 11 1 




Sloan, Thomas C. . 




20 


II 11 c 




Shattuck, Edwin 




37 


II II 1 




Smith, Alfred W. . 




24 


11 II I 




Tanner, Ferdinand . 




20 


II II I 




Taylor, John . 




20 


II 11 I 




Whittier, Napoleon B. 




25 


II II I 




Whittier, Reuben S. 




22 


II 11 1 




Wilkins, George W. 




19 


II II II II 


Discharged. 




Causes of Discharge. 


William C. Johnston, 1st Serg't . 


25 


First Lieut., Aug. 20, 1861 ; Capt. Aug. 21 
1862; dismissed Feb., 1863. 


George Myrick, Sergeant 


25 


Second Lieut., July 12, 1802. 


George King, " 


25 


Disability, July, 1861. 


Albert Pierce, Corporal 




— 


" Kov., " 


James A. Lakin, " 







" March 12, 1863. 


Horace F. Brown, " 




— 


Appointment in Navy, Sept., 1862. 


David B. Murphy, " 




35 


Disability, Oct. 10, 1862. 


Joseph A. Sniith, Wagone 


r 


— 


II ]o, " 


Allen, Lorenzo L. . 




— 


11 (I 16^ II 


Campbell, Thomas W. 




— 


,1 I. 11^ ct 


Craig, Charles 







Aug. 18, 1861. 


Chainpney, William L. 




— 


'< Dec. 22, 1862. 


Duffield, John 




— 


Nov., 1861. 


Danforth, George . 




15 


" Aug. 21, 1862. 


Dultou, George W. . 




— 


" Jan. 4, 


1863. 



514 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 



Names. 




JRemarhs. 


Derby, Samuel 


_ 


Disability, Dec. 26, 1862. 


Damery, Richard 




35 


" Aug., 1861. 


Emerson, Moses C. 




35 


" Jan. 19, 1861. 


Fuller, William H. . 




— 


" Mar. 19, 1863. 


Gasklns, James 




— 


" Oct. 10, 1862. 


Herman Conrad 




1 


" Dec. 10, " 


Holmes, William . 




1 


" Sept. 5., " wounded. 


Haynes, Daniel B. . 




|- 


" Nov. 10, 1861, " acciden'ly. 


Hartford, George W. 




— 


Aug., 1861. 


Ingalls, George 




ji 


<{ (. u 


Locke, Samuel A. . 




(< (1 11 


Lanagan, William H. 






Oct. 10, 1862. 


McKenna, Alfred . 




19 


" Feb. 7, 1863. 


Marcy, Howard F. . 




36 


" Oct. 7, 1862. 


Neil, John . 




— 


" Mar. 22, 1863. 


Neil, Charles H. 




— 


Oct. 27, 1862. 


Oldham, Charles 




— 


" Nov. 21, " 


O'Brien, Jeremiah . 




i4 


" Aug., 1861. 


Proctor, Benjamin . 




— 


" Dec. 23, 1863. 


Ransom, Wallace 




— 


" Au^, 1861. 


Ransom, Everlyne B. 




— 


u • u u 


Shields, William . 




31 


Jan. 4, 1863. 


Swain, John P. 




: — 


" Aug., 1861. 


Sackett, Moses 




i- 


u u a 


Severance, Orren S. 






u u 


Wilcutt, John S. 




20 


" Nov. 7, 1862, wounded. 


.Williams, Martin J. 




|25 


Mar. 21, 1863. 


Willey, Frank 






" Aug., 1861. 


Young, William 0. . 




— 


" Oct. 19, 1862, wounded. 


Young, Samuel W. . 




— 


" Sept., 1861. 


Transferred. 




To ivhat Organization. 


Clapp, James S. . . . 


30 


11th Mass., May 20, 1864. 


Emerv.JohuA. 




29 


(( 11 it u 


Gill, Henry W., Jr. 




32 


Vet. Res. Corps, Aug., 1863, record lost. 


Hatchky, Fritz 




— 


u <« (< u a 


Pierce, Frederick 




21 


(i (( i( 


Shackford, William B. 




42 


" " " Jan. 21, 1864. 


Died. 




Causes of Death. 


William Kelren, Sergeant 


31 


Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., Julv 2, 1863. 


Horace 0. Blake, Corporal 


— 


Killed at Fair Oaks, Va., June 25, 1862. 


Albert A. Farnham, " 


23 


Died at Richmond, Va., Nov. 15, 1863. 


Cox, Samuel H. 




32 


" Dorchester, Mass., date unk'n. 


Chadwick, Samuel S. 




20 


" Riclimond, Va., " . 


Baxter, George 0. . 




— 


Killed at Fair Oaks, Va., June 25, 1862. 


Burditt, (Jeorge W. 




; — 


" Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1S62. 


Brown, Cliarles A. . 




23 


'« Chancellors ville, Va, May 3, '63. 


Gaskins, William B. 




— 


" Fair Oaks, Va., June 25, 1S62. 


Kettell, Frederick S. 




— 


Diedof w'nds at Gettysb'g, Fa., J'ly2, '63. 


Lawson, Thomas . 




2S 


" dis., at Pot. Creek Hos. Ap. 23, '63. 


Tucker, John C. M. 






Died of dis., at Fair Oaks, June 23, 1862. 


Whitman, Edward P. 


• 


28 


Missing in action since June 80, 1862. 



Desej'ted. 
Joseph W. Dod^e, Musician 
Joseph A. Converse, Corporal 

Berry, Cliarles O. 
Bayley, Cliarles 
Closson, Edward P. . 
Howe, John B. 



Date of Desertion. 
Bladensburg, IMd., Aug. 8, 1861. 
Sent to hospital, June 27, 1863, not since 

been heard from. 
Camp Hooker, Md., Nov., 1861. 
New York, Au<,^ 2, 1863. 
Falmouth, Va.', June 11, 1863. 



— ! May 22, 1862. 



ENLISTED MEN — COMPANY F. 



515 



Names. 



Hawkes, Thomas B. Jr. 
Monroe, William 
Pierce, Joseph H. 

Euggles, Henry P. 
Hansom, William H 
Ryan, James . 

Simmons, Albert 
Stevens, William A 

Shaw, Jerry . 
Tighe, James T. 
W^oodbury, Frank V 



Company F. 

William H. Jepson, 1st Sergeant, 27 

Lewis H. Hall, Sergeant 

John J. Bennett, " . .26 



William J. Loheed, " 

William H. Foss, " 
Luke K. Landy, Corporal 
James A. Martin, " 
John J. Noyes, " 

James Armstrong, '' 
George W. W. Foss," 
Abial A. Wyeth, " 
Conant, Ira . 
Carney, John H. 
Cook, Hollis . 
Drury, Elijah G. 
feew, James . 
Frost, Thomas P. . 
Foss, Benjamin D. . 
Faunce, Albert A. . 
Graves, George . . 
Goulding, Cornelius D. 
Gordan, Alexander . 
Hinds, George J. 
Hammett, Charles K. 
Hall, Ephraim H. . 
Hall, Edward G. 
Ivers, Warren 
Jewell, Benjamin W. 
Kendall, James F. . 
Kiley, John . 
Lord, Warren L. 
Lincoln, Charles K. 
Lewis, Frederick A. S. 
McKenzie, James F. 
McManus, Thomas . 
McArt, Anthony 
Morris, Samuel H. . 
Nuttall, Adam J. 
No well, Francis S. . 
Poole, Joseph BI. 
Paul, Edward O. 
Peaks, Albert P. 
Richardson, .Saufoi'dH. 
Richardson, Joseph A. 
Sims, William 



Item arks. 



Georgetown, D.C., June 0, 1803. 

Camp Hooker, Md., Kov., 18(51. 

Wounded at 2d Bull Run, not since re- 
ported. 

Cambridge, Mass*, June 15, 1861. 

Falmouth, Va., Jan. 25, 1863. 

Wounded at 2d Bull Run, not since re- 
ported. 

Falmouth, Va., Jan. 25, 1803. 

In hospital; not been heard of since 
July 4, 1862. 

Frederick, Md., July, 1803. 

Camp Hooker, Md., Nov., 1801. 

Bladensburg, Md., Aug., 1801. 



Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 

" " " " ; Corporal, 

May 15, 1862; Sergeant, Aug. 1, 1863. 

Mustered out. May 25,1864; Corporal, 
May 15, 1862; Sergeant, Aug. 1, 1863. 

Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 



Missing in action. May 0, 1864. 
Mustered out. May 25, 1864. 



516 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 



Names. 


aJ 
be 

<i 

46 


Kemarlis. 


Sylveria, Vincent P. 


At Parole Camp, taken pris. at Getty sb'g. 


Stiuson, George C. . 


20 


Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 


Sawtell, Amos J. . 


29 


<( l( >< u 


Seniple, William . 


34 


C( (( l( <( 


Tandy, Eleazer ... 


24 


(( II II «l 


Thing, John D. . . . 


33 


« 11 U 11 


Wood, George 


30 


(( (I I( (( 


Discharged. 




Causes of Discharge. 


Clifton F. Kendall, Sergeant. . 


25 


Oct. 15. 1862, on account of wounds. 


Shadrach K. Morris, 1st .Sergeant, 


30 


First Lieut., Sept. 13, 18G2. 


Robert B. Smith, . •' " . 


25 


Boston, Mass., Aug. 15, 'G3, on acc't w'd-. 


Charles F. Brown, " " . 


34 


Oct. 19, 1803. 


Theoph's L. Bishop, Corporal . 


23 


Camp Union, Md. ; records lost. 


JobDobson, " 


27 


li II 11 


William ]\IcDonald, Musician . 


19 


Disability, May 9, 18G3, at Boston, Mass. 


Jolm A. Burtlett, W^agoner 


36 


" Oct. 14, 1SG2, at New York. 


Montague, Daniel F. 


26 


Georgetown, D.C., July, 1861. 


Kni-ht, William . 


21 


II II II (I 


Smith, George 


29 


U II (I <( 


Adams, Edwin 


19 


Fort Albany, Va., Aug., 1861. 


BraCkett, Francis . 


25 


Budd's Ferry, Md., Nov. 11, 1861. 


Colson, Henry H. . 


18 


Jan., 1862. 


Foss, Edmund F. . 


22 


Boston, Mass., April, 1862. 


Stern, Simon .... 


21 


Bellevue Hosp., IS.Y., Sept., 1862. 


Lillie, Jeflerson 


23 


Budd's Ferry, Md , Feb., '62 ; disability. 


Prince, James H. 


29 


Oct. 25, 1862. 


Knox, Charles H. . 


20 


14 II II 


Leary, James .... 


22 


N.Y., Oct. 18, 1862, on acc't of wounds. 


Eitgan, John A. 


25 


Falmouth, Va., Dec. 1, '62, " " 


IS^orwood, Joseph W. 


20 


Philadel., Pa., " 6, " " " 


Caldwell, Josiah 


26 


Portsm'th-Grove Hos., disabil.; no date. 


Nelson, James 


39 


Washington, D. C, Jan., 1863. 


Crowley, William . 


19 
24 


11 II II 14 


Chandler, James 


II Feb. 7," 


Foss, Charles H. . 


28 


Providence, R.I., May 11, '63; disability. 


Millard, George H. . 


21 


Washington, D.C., March 4, 1863. 


Chase, W^arren J. . 


27 


Feb. 10, " 


Abbott, James E. . 


22 


Boston, Mass., Sept. .30, 1863; disability. 


Chandler, Edward R. 


30 


Gen. nos.,N.Y., Oct. 7, " 


Stimpson, Jelferson 


38 


Boston, IMass.; no date. 


Leary, William T. . 


28 


Order of Adj.-Gen. of Mass.; no date. 


Coffin, Charles H. . 


24 


Newark, N.J., Feb. 2, 1863. 


Welch, George H. . 


38 


Brandy Station, Va., Jan. 2, '64, to re-en. 


Mingle, George W., Musician . 


16 


" «' Mar. 10, '64, " 


Kuhn, John tt. . , . 


23 


Alexandria, Va., April 8, '64; disability. 


Bennett, George A. . 


44 


Falmouth, Va., Dec. 25, lttG2, 


Fay, >\ illiam H. . . . 


24 


Boston, Mass., " " " 


Transferred. 




To what Organization. 


Prest, JohnJ. 


18 


To Co. I, for a Musician. 


Weymouth, Charles L. 


35 


Veteran Reserve Corps, 1863. 


Caldwell, Joseph H. 


28 


" " " Jan. 16, 1864. 


Waterhouse, Thomas J. . 


28 


14 II .4 II 15^ 1. 


Peasley, Alonzo A. . 


21 


" " '' no date. 


Garrity, Daniel 


27 


" " " Feb. 15, 1864 


Welch, George II. . 




11th Mass., May 21, 1864. 


Mingle, George W., Musician . 


16 


14 41 II 


Morris, John . 


32 


<4 14 44 


Knight, George A. . 


23 


14 41 II 


Clark, Jotham W. . 


22 


4( II II 


Swallow, Alfred A., Corporal . 


24 


Quartermaster Sergeant; no date. 



ENLISTED MEN — COMPANY G. 



517 



Names. 



Died. 
Barlow, Herbert L. . 
Stevens, George Jr.,- Corporal, 
Hulme, James M., '' 

Haley, Michael, " 

Burrill, J. Q., 
Appleton, William H. " 
Derby, Edward A. . 
Stone, William W. . 
Houston, William F. 
Morris, William 

Fogg, Orin 
Fogy, Elisha H. 
Marston, Charles H. 

Morris, Christopher . 
Mclntire, Joseph M. 
Greadon, Andrew 
Jollimore, William . 
Moore, Andrew 

Deserted. 
Jerome Carlton, Sergeant . 

James E. Keeley, Corporal 
Henry A. Wright, " 
Arthur T. Currier, " 
John Cary, " 

Ryan, John 
Sullivan, William . 
Lavery, Arthur 
Lavery, Michael 
Waite, John .. 
De Laney, John 
Wilson, John C. . 

Kobinson, William P. D. 



Kain, Edward J. 
Ayre, Daniel M. 
Riley, Hu;^li . 
Tucker, William F. 
Bishop, Joseph S. 
Moore, Charles H. 
Gerry, John W. 
Gillespie, Edward C 



Company G. 

George H. Tyler, ist Sergeant 
John Scates, Sergeant 
John P. Houghton, " 
Edwin L. Thayer, " 
Laban W. Turner, Corporal 
George Sawyer, " 

Alva J. Wilson, " 

Frank Carlisle, " 

Austin Bigelow, " 

Richard B. Smart, " 

William H.Houghton, " 
George W. Burditt, Musician 
James Elms, Wagoner 
44 



Keniarha. 



Causes of Death. 
Accid. shot at Budd's F'y, Md., Jan. 3,'62. 
Died of w'ds, Ft. Monroe, Va., M'li 10, '63. 

" dis., at Falmouth, Va., Ap. 6, '03. 

" w'ds,at Wash'n, D.C., July 7, '63. 

'• " at Gettysburg, Pa., " 4, '63. 

'( •' << (( <( <i 

" dis., Har'n's L'd'g, Va., " 22, '62. 
Killed at Williamsburg, Va., Mav 5, '62, 

•' Bull Run, Va., Aug. 2y," 1802. 
Died while having leg amputated, at 

Bull Run, Aug. 29, 1802. 
Died of wounds, Oct. 7, 1862. 
Killed at Bull Run, Aug. 29, 1862. 
Died of wounds at Georgetown, D.C., 

Aug. 29, 1802. 
Died at Keg. Hosp., of dis., Feb. 28. '63. 
Killed at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, '63. 



" Gettysburg, Va., July 2, 1863. 

Date of Desertion. 
At Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. De- 
serted second time. 
Rep. dcserterby order of Col., July 1,'63. 
At Fairfax Seminary, Va., Oct., 1802. 
At Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 31, 1803. 
Parole Camp, Sept., 1863. 
Georgetown, D.C., July, 1861. 
Fort Albany, Va., Aug., 1861. 



Bladensburg, Md., 



[treat. 



Bull Run, Va., July 22, 1861, while on re- 
Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, while 

in line of battle. 
Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862, while 

in line of battle. 
Falmouth, Va., Jan. 25, 1863. 

" " May 13, " 

New York, Aug. 7, 1803. 
Harrison's Lauding, Va., 1862. 
Parole Camp, Sept. 1, 1863. 

Newark, N.J., 1862. 

Aug., 1862. Place not known. 



Mustered out. May 26, 1864. 



518 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 




Abell, Salem . 
Ashman, Samuel 
Bell, James H. 
Burke, Edward A. . 
Barry, Alonzo L. 
Carver, John E. 
Cook, George D. 
Chinn, Edmund B. . 
Day, Benjamin E. 
Desmond, Michael J. 
Fitzgerald, James . 
Poy, George . 
Foley, Dennis . 
Garland, Robert F. . 
Gilpatrick, Edward L. 
Gribben, James E. . 
Hamllee, Thomas 
Hanihan, James 
Hubbard, George O. 
Kennedy, Thomas . 
Lothrop, Thomas 
Maer, William 
Murphy, Andrew 
McGail, James 
McCarty, Cornelius . 
Mclvenzie, Daniel . 
Newcomb, Joseph A. 
Norton, James 
Parker, Thomas S. . 
llafterty, James 
Streeter, Wyman B. 
Sullivan, Marcus M. . 
Symonds, Stillman F. 
Stauwood, George E. 
Savage, George B. . 
Wilkinson, Thomas , 
Wiley, John , 



25, 



. 26 

. ;28 

. 122 

.\Z7 

.25 

,|26 

.3' 

.■26| 

.1231 

30 

,135, 

45 

.129 

.'25 

• M 

129 

142 

|34 

29 

34 

34 

128 

|23 

'25 

145 

27 

23 

34 

i 



Away sick when reg't was mustered out. 
Mustered out. May 25, 18&4. 



Discharged. 
John McUonough, 1st Sergeant , 
Henry Hartley, Sergeant . , 

George L. Lawrence, " . . 

Itufus 31. Megquire, 1st Sergeant, 
Rawlins T. Atkins, *' 
Bowers, Henry P. . 
Burnham, Wyman P. 
Birch, Samuel . 
Boole, John A. 
Clarke, James X. 
Chamberlin, Charles H 
Clautir, Peter . 
Cassell, James P. 
Carlin, Michael 
Carbrey, James F. , 
Chad wick, James 
Dennis, Theodore C. 
Darlins, Samuel , 
Edgeworth, James F. 
Edge worth, Samuel B. 
Estabrooks, Samuel P. 
Forbes, John A. 
Fuller, Charles G. 
Garland, Stephen R. 
Gilman, Edwin L., Corporal 



Causes of Discharge. 
First Lieut., July 1, 1862. [date unk'n. 
Second '< Aug. 2ii, 1861 ; First Lieut., 

♦' " " 30, 1862. 

<< " Mar, 2, mm. 
Special Order, W.D., Dec. 28, 1863. 
Disability, Georgetown, D.C, July 19,'61 , 
David's Is., N.Y., Oct. 2, '62. 
Order War Department, May, 180?. 
Disability, Sept. 20, '62, Philadelphia, Pa. 
'* June 15.'61, Cambrid^'-e, Mass. 

" July 19, '61, Gt-orget'n, D.C. 

Gen. Or., Feb. 8, '62, Budd's Ferry, Md. 
Disability, Oct. 8, '62, n. Alexandria, Va, 

" Dec, 29, 1863, Boston, Mass. 

" Jan. 22,'63, Georgetown, D.C. 

" Feb. 27, '63, Camp Conv., Va, 

'< Aug. 1, iSiU, Arlington, Va. 

" Apr. 4, l.%3, Boston, Mass. 

" July 19, '61, Georget'wn, D.C. 

" <' 31, 18()1, Arlington, Va. 

" Mar,, 1862, Budd's Ferry, Md. 

" July 19, '61, Georgot'wn, D.C. 

" Nov, 5, 1862, Boston, Mass, 

" July 19, '61, Georget'wn, D,C, 

" " 31, 1861, Arliagton, Va. 



ENLISTED MEN — COMPANY G. 



519 



Names* 



Graves, William W. 

Gordon, George F. . 

Goodwin, Charles H. 

Gray, William H. . " 

Gordon, John A, 

Holt, Joseph F. 

Himes, Walter I. 

Hooper, John F 

Hoyt, William S. . 

Hobart, Daniel K. . 

Hildreth, Jos. A., Corportil 

Harmon, Woodbury S. 

Jackson, John F. 

Johnson, tjeth W, 

Johnson, William H. 

Karcher, Andrew B. 

Lucas, John . 

Long, Samuel T. 

Moore, Francis, Sergeant . 

Moore, Samuel L. . 

Mahony, Dennis 

Morton, Charles S., Corporal 

McDonald, Francis . 

Mclntire, Joseph 

Prescott, Fred'k A., Sergeant 

Rosewell, James 

Rowe, Theodore N. . 

Russell, Charles T. . 

Read, Benton H. 

Rowe, Richard P. 

Roberts, George B., Corporal 

Spooner, Granville T. 

Sawyer, George W., Corporal 

Spear, George G., Jr. 

Searles, William A. . 

Shaw, Charles . , 

Sears, Edward 

Stimson, Eugene 

Swain, Henry G. 

Terry, John D. . 

Thompson, George W., Corp'l 

Tiiomas, Jefferson . 

Whitcorab, Actor J, P., Jr. 

Willis, George H. . 

Waller, Samuel W. . 

Warren, Daniel 

Wilson, John H., Sergeant 

Transferred. 
Connor, Timothy, Sergeant 
Dearing, Georgfe T., Musician 
Foster, William H. . 
Fisher, Alphonzo 
Gilford, James F. 
Hart, William N., Musician 
Lockwood, Leverett L. 
Madden, Elihu 
Marlow, Peter W. . 
Moore, Charles F. . 
McMakin, Charles . 
Nagle, Garrett 
Pierce, Joseph W. . 
Pope, Aug'ustus R. . 
Rafferty, Edward 



RemarUs. 



Disability, Aug. 31, 18G1, Arlington, Va. 

•* Sept. 25, " Bladensb'g, Md. 

" Oct. 20, 1862. 

Order War Department, May, 1802. 
Disability, April 9, '64, Wash'gton, D.C. 
• " July 5, ]8ril,Georget'on, D.C. 

Disability, Sept. 25, I8tjl, IJiadensb'g, Md. 

" Aug. .31, 1862, New York. 

" Oct. 8, 1862. 

" « 27, " 

Second Lieut., .38th Mass., Aug. 18, N".2. 
Disability, Feb. 17, 186.3, Boston, Ma.<<s. 

*' July 25, 1861, Arlington, Va. 

" 31, " 

" Oct. 10, 1862, Alexandria, Va. 

" July 19, '61, GcorfCft'n, D.C. 

" Dec. 29, '62, Ft. Monroe, Va. 

" Jan. 30,'63, Washingt'n, D.C. 

" July 25, 1861, Arlington, Va. 



" Sept. 1, 1863, Boston, Mass. 

" May 10, 18()4, 

" Mar. 1862, Budd's Ferry. Md. 

" April 9, 1863, Boston, Ma.^s. 

" July 19, '61, Georget'n, D.C. 
" " 31, '61, Arlington, Va. 

(I <( (( ik >> 

'' Aug. 1, 1861, " 

" Oct. 13, " Bladensb'g, Md. 

" Dec. 20, 1862. 

" July 19, '61, Georget'n, D.C. 

<' " 31, 1861, Arlington, Va. 

" Aug, 1, " " " 

" Oct. 21, 1S62, Boston, Mass. 

" April 17, 1863, Falmouth, Va. 

" Aug. 1, 1861, Arlington, Va. 

Order W. D., Jan. 10, '()3, Wash'n, D.C. 
Disability, Jan. 7, 1864, Philadelphia, Pa. 
Order Capt. Snow, underage; date unk. 
Disability, Aug. 1, 1861, Arlington, Va. 

Order of Capt. Snow, June 15, 1861. 

Disability, July 31, 1861, Arlington, Va. 
" Aug. 1, " " " 

*« Jan.20,'63, Portsm'thGr.,R.L 

Promoted Captain 31st U. S. Col. Troops. 

To what Organization. 
Re-en. : tr. to Co. C, 11th Mass., My. 20 '64. 

U (1 tl it " '« 

Veteran Reserve Corps, Sept. 30, 1863. 
Co. C, lltli Mass., May 20, 1864. 
Sentenced to hard labor for desertion. 
Prom, to Sgt. and prin. Mus. ; date unk. 
Co. K, 4th U. S. Art., Oct. 31, 1862. 
Veteran Reserve Corps, Sept. 1, 1863. 

u " " Nov. 6, " 

Co. C, 11th Mass., May 20, '64, for doBer. 
Re-enlis'd, Co. C, 11th Mass., May 20, '6». 
Veteran Reserve Corps, March 7, 1804. 

<« " " July 1, 1803. 

Company C, 11th Mass., May 20, 1864. 
Co. C, nth Mass., May 20, 1S64. 



520 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 



Names. 




B,emarTea. 


Steperson, Allen 
Wells, Charles F. . 


41 


Veteran Reserve Corps, Aug. 1, 1863, 
Company E, 6th U. S. Art., date unkn'n. 


23 


Died. 




Causes of Death. 


Oolson, William H., Sergeant . 


26 


Kiyed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1803. 


Forrest, Gordon, " 


31 


" Blckb'ns F d, Va., July 18, 186U 


Allen, John .... 


21 


" Gleudale, Va., June 30, 1802. 


Caswell, Joseph M. 


15 


Died of w'dsatGlendale, Va., J'y 12, '62. 


Brown, John VV. . 


27 


Killed at Fred'burg, Va., Dec. 14, 1862. 


Field, Eben .... 


27 


" Blackb'ns F'd.Va., July 18, '61. 


Roome, Thomas 


30 


u (( 11 11 (( a 


Silvey, James S. . . . 


23 


u w n H H il 


Smart, William H. . 


20 


U It (< U •( (( 


Tarbox, Henry 


20 


Died of dis., Harr's L'd'g, Va., J'y 30, '62. 


William, Thomas H. 


26 


" " Yorktown, V^a., Apr.22, '62. 


Whitteu, Henry G. 


23 


Kil'd in action. Fair Oaks,Va., Je. 25, " 


White, Fhilomen . 


28 


Died of w'ds at Glendale, Va., J'ly 1, " 


Wilson, William W. 


44 


Missing at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 
1863; supposed killed. 


Deserted. 




Date of Desertion. 


Andrews, Eben T. . 


22 


Bladensburg, Md., Nov. 7, 1861. 


Berg-, Thomas A. D. 


22 


Alexandria, Va., Sept. 12, 1862. 


Berne, Joel W. 


22 


Burk's Station, Va., Nov. IS, 1862. 


Butler, Thomas W. . 


34 


Near Fredericksburg. Va., Dec. 17, 1862. 


Field, Edward 


26 


Marcli 1, 1863. 


Gordon, Benjamin A. 


26 


Near Alexandria, Va., Sept. 12, 1862. 


Houghton, Stephen 


22 


March 1, 1863. 


Rice, William F. . 


20 


Sept. 1,1861. 

Fort Albany, Va., Aug. 9, 1861. 


Thompson, Leuben N. 


34 


Wier, Samuel 


29 


Near Alexandria, Va., Sept. 12, 1862. 


Riley, Hugh F. . . . 


22 


Portsmouth Grove, R.I., date unknown , 


Wright, Peter 


22 


Jersey City, Oct. 14, 1863. 


Williams, John 


43 


Riker's Island, N.Y., Sept. 18, 1863. 


Company H. 






Lionel D. Phillips, 1st Sergeant, 


22 


Mustered out. May 25, 1864. 


Samuel S. Pratt, Sergeant 


30 


»( <( (( It 


Samuel B. Bassett, " 


20 


n II (1 It 


Isaac Alston, " 


26 


It It It ti 


Patrick J. Donovan, " 


30 


ft ti It It 


Orvilie Bisbee, Corporal . 


26 


11 It It It 


George B. Miller, " 


32 


il H II If 


Charles A. Lord, Corporal 


21 


tt II II It 


Henry Wilson, " . 
David McClure, " 


20 


It It tt It , 


37 


tl il tt tt 


William D. Grover, " 


23 


tt tl tt 11 


John P. Jones, " 


31 


It It tl 11 


Horace A. Sawyer, Musician 


18 


il II tt tt 


Allen, Nathaniel 


28 


tt ft tl tt 


Allen, Hiram W. . . . 


25 


Ord. to rep. to Gen. Wild, July 15, 1863. 


Alger, Charles H. . 


[23 


Mustered out. May 25, 1864. 


Blaisdell, Sargent . 


42 


i< II It II 


Blanchard, Benjamin 


26 


ft It It It 


Childa, Samuel 


21 


ft 11 ft It 


Clark, Leonard 


21 


ft il It if 


Cornell, Enoch C. . 


35 


_ f< tl ft ft 


Davis, Nathaniel T. 


24 


It II It if 


Donegan, Tliomas . 

Drown, John G. . . . 


19 


ti it it ft 


36 


it ii it li 


Emerson, Nathaniel B. 


23 


it ti It tt 


Flagg, Darius C. . 


24 


ii it It It 



ENLISTED MEN — COMPANY H. 



521 



Names. 


i 
< 


Remarha. 


Fletcher, Calvin T. . 


27 


Mustered out, May 25, 1865. 


Grover, Fitzroy 


18 




Green, George H. . 


19 


<< << (( ii 


Hadley, Edward F. 


39 


i< (I (( (I 


Hassett, Edward F. 


24 


U It (( (1 


Heald, Timothy F. . 
Holden, Leverctt D. 


31 

18 


Away sick when reg't was mustered out 
Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 


Jennings, Stephen E. 


26 




Luke, John A. 


27 


« <J U H 


Lynch, William 


35 


It a (( (( 


Mason, Henry 


20 


Away wou'd when reg't was must'd out. 


Peabody, Edward M. 


21 


Mustered out. May 25, 1864. 


Rogers, Frank H. . . 


21 


Away, in hospital. 


Smith, WiUiam H. . 


26 


Away, wounded. 


Spofford, Daniel H. 


19 


Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 


Spooner, Joseph W. 


23 




Sullivan, Thomas 0. 


22 


u «f u c« 


Sullivan, George S. 


28 


(' « u « 


Thombs, Thomas . 


34 


u (» a t( 


Thurston, Joseph W. 


30 


<< <( (( u 


Toppan, John Q. A. 


23 


<( << (( u 


Totten, William A. P. . 


20 


(I U U l( 


Tower, Stephen T. . 


22 


(4 li i: <t 


Welch, William 


18 


U U U (( 


Wyman, Frederick . 


20 


Away sick when reg't was mustered out. 


York, John .... 


38 


Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 


Discharged. 




Causes of Discharge. 


Horatio Roberts, 1st Sergeant . 


_ 


Commissioned Oct. 12, 1861. 


Edward G. Tuteen, 


21 


" Slarch 1, 1863. 


Charles H. Carruth, " 


•29 


Disability, Jan. 1, 1863. 


James R. Gerrish, Sergeant 


20 


" Oct. 5, 1802. 


John Harvey, " 


30 


" Sept. 13, 1863. 


William P. Drury, 


21 


Commissioned Sept. 8, 1822. 


Edward L. Jones, Corporal 


22 


Disability, Sept. 6, 1862. 
July 22, 1801. 


George 0. Jewett, " 




Jonathan J. Frost, " 


43 


Oct. 26, 1862. 


William A. Smith, " 


25 


Commissioned Aug. 18, 1862. 


John H. Newling, " 


27 


Disability, 1862, month unknown. 


Horatio N. Williams, Musician . 


18 


" Sept. 6, 1862. 
'« July 22, 1861. 


Appleby, Mark H. . 


30 


Appleton, Charles A. J. . 


30 


:: ^"' :: 


Batcheldor, Ezra A. 


23 


u « 22, " 


Bridges, William E. 


26 


On account of business, July 6, 1861-. 


Baker, Alexander B. 


33 


Disability, Aug., 1862. 


ChafTee, Charles M. 




July 22, 1861 ; no cause assigned. 


Campbell, William H. . 


30 


Disability, July .30, 1861. 


Clement, William B. 


25 




Jan. 24, 1863. 


Chittick, Thomas . 


21 




' 1862, month unknown. 


Cooper, Oliver C. . 


23 




' April, 1863. 


Campbell, George W. 


19 




' 1862, month unknown. 


Gushing, William G. 


52 




March 3, 1863. 


Day, John W. . 


23 




Aug. 29, 1861, 


Drawbridge, Thomas N. . 


23 




' Mar. 15, 18C2, 


Everdeen, Charles S. 


23 




' Nov. 3, 1862. 


Everdeen, Wilbur F. 


30 


Feb, 27, 1863. 


Fellows, Charles O. 


18 


Commissioned Jan. 17, 1862, 


Flanders, George I. 


27 


On account of cowardice, July 22, 18fll. 


Florence, Thomas • 


28 


Disability, Dec, 1863, 


Gerrish, William . 


18 


'( July 22, 1861. 


Gilbert, Charles 


32 


(< << li 


Grantman, William 


22 


Commissioned Aug. 18, 1862. 


Gr'ay, George W. . , , 


?7 


Disal 


)ility, Dec. 1862, 



44* 



5*22 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 



Names . 



Grover, Christopher C. 
Grover, Amaziah 
Gafferney, James 
Haskell, Theodore F. 
Huse, Nelson S. 
Horton, Augustus E. 
Halgreen, William C. 
Ilsley, Jonathan C. . 
Jackson, Charles A. 
Jewett, William M. 
Johnson, Henry 
James, John M. , . 
Kelley, John . 
Lamos, Horace A. . 
Lane, William H. 
Jvearued, Samuel F. H. 
Learned, George G. 
Mason, Nathaniel E. 
Moody, Francis O. . 
Moore, John G. 
Morrison, Richard L. 
Montague, William H. 
McConnell, William 
Osborne, David W. . 
Parsons, Joshua 
Ferley, Elbridge G. 
Perkins, Calvin 
Spavin, Robert 
Stone, George H. 
Savelle, James H. . 
Seavey, William M. 
Sands, George H. 
Souther, William R. 
Tewksbury, Martin G. 
Taylor, John . 
Veazie, Eli 
Whittaker, Abner G. 
Walker, Henry 

Transferred. 
Chessman, John W. 
Cudworth, John R. 
Halgreen, Robert B. 
Loud, Nathan N. 
Sawyer, Thorndike H. 
Ward, George 

Woods, Lemuel F. . 



Died. 
Andrews, Walter B. 
Bigelow, Josepli H. 
Bigelovv, Tiiomas H., Sergeant 
Bacon, Geor^^e 
Batchelor, William C. 
Bailey, Henry S. 

Crowelj, Philander 
Densmore, William J. 
Emerson, Stephen G. 
Fox, William A. 
Gross, Edward 
Heald, Samuel C. 



MemarJcs. 



Disability, April 10, 1863. 

" May 1, 1804. 

" Jan., 1803. 

" July 24. 1862. 

" Mar. 30, '' 

" Oct. 16, " 

" Sept. 22, " 

On account of cowardice, July 22, 1861. 
Commissioned Aug. 23, 1S62. 
Disability, July 22, 186L 

'• Jan. 8, 1863. 

Feb. 18, " 

" May 24, " 

" Sept. 25, 1862. 

Oct. 20, " 
Commissioned in col'd reg't Mar. 27, '63. 
Disability, Jan. 18, 1862. 
Pec, 1862. 

" Feb. 4, 1863. 

" Mar. 7, " 

On account of cowardice, July 22, 1861. 
Disability, Oct. 26, 1862. 

" Mar. 8, 1863. 

" Nov. 3, 1862. 

" Oct. 20, " 

" July 22, 1861. 

" Aug. 29, " 

" Oct. 12,1862. 

" Jan. 21, 1864. 

" Nov. 26, 1862. 

" Nov. 5, " 

" July 24, "j 

" May 27, 1863. 

" Feb. 10, " 

" Mar. 23, 1864. 

" July 28, 1862. 

" Apr. 14, 1863. 

To what Organization. 
Veteran Reserve Corps, Nov. 15, 1863. 
Re-en; transf. to 11th Mass. May 20, '64. 
1st U. S. Cavalry, Dec. 10, 1862. 
Re-en; transf. to 11th Mass., May 20, '04. 
Veteran Reserve Corps., Jan. 18, 1804. 
Re-enlisted and transferred to 11th Mass , 

May 20, 1864. 
Veteran Reserve Corps, Feb. 15, 1864. 

Causes of Death. 
Killed at Yorktown, Va., April 26, 1862. 
Died of wounds, Sept. 22, 1862. 

" June 2, 1863. 
KiPdat Blackb'n's Ford, Va., July 18, '61. 
Died of disease, Sept. 29, 1862. 
Killed accidentally, at Hunter's Ford, 

Va., Nov. 30, 1802. 
Kil'd at Blackb'n's Ford, Va., July 18, '61. 
Died of w'nds at aianas's, Va., Sept. 3, 62. 
Kil'd at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, '63. 
Died olsta'v'n at Kic'm'd,Va.,Nov. 21, '<!3. 
KiPdatSpottsylv. C.H., Va., May 12, '64. 
" Manassas, Va., Aug. 29, 1862. 



ENLISTED MEN — COMPANY I. 



523 



Nantes. 



Harding:, Thomas, Sergeant 
Kingsbury, Allen A. 
Kelley, Lawrence H. 
Luke, William H. . 
Murpliy, James H, . 
Mandeville, John M., 1st Serg't, 
Needham, Thomas . 
Noyes, George A. . 
Pearce, Henry A., Corporal 
Smith, William D. . 
Smith, Chauncey C. 
Wentworth,^ Albert F. 

Deserted. 
Jacobs, Edward C. . 
Stoddard, George L. 
Wright, William T., Corporal . 

Missing in Action, 
Andrews, Robert 



Cotnpauy I. 

William W. Eaton, 1st Sergeant, 

George F. Marden, Sergeant 
William Fourer, " 

Thomas Malady, " 

Frederick A. Wallis, Corporal 
Timothy Hurley, 
William Prescott, 
Isaac Clark, 

Charles A. Bacon, 
Alexander Grant, 
John F. Harney, 
John J. McCabe, Musician 
John J. Prest, " 

J. Foster Doane, Wagoner 
Allen, Edward F. . 
Boss, William 
Brown, Horace M. . 
Brintnell, John E. . 
Barton, John 
Cilley, John B, 
Cripps, John . 
Dean, George A. 
Duggan, John 
Downing, James H. 
Finnegan, Edward . 
Fillebrown, Charles E 
Flynn, Thomas 
Fielden, Dennis 
Fuller, Harrison 
Gordon, George E. 
Haskell, Edward B. 
Harrington, Elisha R. 
Houston, Caleb 
Hood, James . 
Jones, Franklin 
Kilburn, George P. . 
Livermore, Thomas 



Remarks. 



Kil'dat Blackb'n's Ford,Va., July 18, '61. 

" Yorktown, Va., April :J(j, 18G2. 

" Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1803. . 
Died of w'ds at Manassas, Va., Sept. 13, 62. 
Kil'd at Blackb'n's FoFd, Va., July 18, '61. 

" Manassas, Va., Aug. 29, 1862. 

" Blackb'n's Ford.Va., July 18, '61. 
Killed at Yorktown, Va., April 26, 1862. 
Died of dis. at Wash'n,D.C., Feb. 22, '6^. 
Killed at Yorktown, Va., April 26, 1862. 
Died of dip. at Edgart'n, Ms., Sept. 8, '63. 
Kil'd at Blackb'n's Ford, Va., J'y 18, '61. 

Date of Desertion. 
Alexandria, Va., Nov. 12, 1802. 
Sept., 1862. 
Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa., Dec, 1863. 



Near Spottsylva. C. H., Va., May 10, '04. 



Mustered out, May 25, 1864; Ist Sergeant, 

Aug. 1, 1863. 
Must'd out, May 25, '64; Ser., Nov. 1, '62. 

" " " " May 1,'63. 

" " " " Aug. 1,'63. 

" " " Corp., Aug. 10, 62. 

u u u u u ,^2. 

" " " " Oct. 13, '62. 

In hosp. at Washington, D. C, wounded ; 

Corporal, Dec. 8, 1802. 
Must, out, May 25, '64; Corp., Apr. 8, '63. 
u u u u Aug. 1, " 



Away woun'd when reg't was must. out. 
Mustered out. May 25, 1864. 



In hosp. when reg't was mustered out. 
Mustered out, Jlay 25, 1864. 



524 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 



Names. 



Lloyd, Charles J. 
Murray, William 
Moro;an, William 
Mozart, Geor^^e W. 
Mahouey, Patrick 
Moulton, Arthur B. 
McQuestion, George E. 
Naudasher, John 
Nugent, John A. 
Newhall, James F. 
O'Brien, Thomas 
Payne, George A. 
Payberg-, Charles 
Rooney, Hubert 
Towle, Augustine 
Town send, Charles 
Woodhall, Samson 

Discharged. 
.James Doherty, Sergeant 
James Finney, " 

James P. Taylor, " 
Forester A. Pelby, " 
Charles Burbank, Corporal 
James W. Dana, 
William F. Durloo, 
John K. Grant, 
William H. Horaans 
John A. Wilkinson, 
Andrews, John D. . 
IJreek, Isaac C. . ' 

Bridgman, La Roy S. 
Bacon, Hiram 
Gushing, Samuel W. 
Carpenter, Patrick . 
Chamberlin, Henry L. 
Collins, James H. 
Coggins, Edward J. 
Carroll, Charles A. . 
Carlin, John . 
Daily, William 
Emory, Andrew J. . 
Finney, John F. 
Freeman, William N. 
Ford, James P. 
Gvvinn, George L. . 
Gardner, John W. . 
Goodridge, Augustus P. 
Gracie, William R. . 
Huth, John . 
Hall, Nicholas S. . 
Higgins, Joseph 
Kimball, Gardner A. 
Lynch, Mark 
L'ln^jland, Isaac 
Murphy, Robert W. 
McGee, John C. 
Murpliy, John J. 
Mclntirc, Nelson W. 
Mitchell, .Fohn 
Muloy, Mark B. 
McLean, George 
Newhall, Micajah . 
Nerland, William A. M. 



MemarJcs. 



Mustered out, May 25, 1865. 



At Annapolis, Md., when reg'tmus. out. 
Sick when regiment was mustered out. 
Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 



Away wou'd when reg't was must'd out. 
Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 



Causes of Discharge. 

Second Lieut., Dec. 25, 1862. 

On account of wounds ; date unknown. 

Disability, May 25, 18G3. 

Second Lieut., Aug. 26, 1861. 

Disability, July 20, 1861. 

" Dec, 22, 1862. 

" July 20, 1861. 

" Sept. 2, " 

For promotion, March 1, 1803. 
Disability, July 21, 1861. 



Sept. 2, " 
Dec. 27, 1862. 
July 20, 1861. 
Sept. 2, " 



•" Mar. 2, 1862. 

" Oct., 1862. 

" Mar. 27, 1863. 

" July 20, 1861. 

" Feb. 17, 1863. 

" Sept. 2, 1861. 

" Oct. 10, 1862. 

" Sept. 30, " 

" July 20,' 1861. 

" Sept. 2, " 

" Oct. 3, 1862. 

" Mav, 1863. 

" Sept. 2, 1861. 

On account ol' wounds, Aug. 25, 1862. 
Disability, Jan. 14, 1863. 
For promotion, .Tan. 14, 1864. 
Disability, May 27, 1863. 

" Sept.21, " 

" July 20, 1861. 

" Sept. 2, " 

(( i( <( 

'« Dec. 22, 1862. 

" Dec. 23, " 

" Mar. 31, 1863. 

" Oct. 13,1862. 

" Mar. 16, " 

On account of wounds, Nov. 1, 1862. 



i 



ENLISTED MEN — COMPANY I. 



M5 



Names. 



Niles, WiHiam A. M 
Peterson, Robert W 
Proctor, James 
Roach, John C. 
Ruth, William B. 
Russell, Maynard 
Starr, Delancy 
Sweeny, John 
Stranger, Andrew 
Spear, James 
Sargent, Cyrus C. 
Tyner, George H. 
Wilkinson, Charles A 
Williams, Harvey 
Wilson, James 
Wilson, Wentworth 
White, Patrick 



Transferred. 

Frank W. Marshall, 1st Sergeant, 
Bolinart, Jacob 
Hutchins, Edward R. 
Joiuison, George 
Kidder, George R 
McClairo, Eugene 
Maguire, James 
Thayer, William 

Died. 
George W. Harris, 1st Sergeant 
Andrew Bertram, Sergeant 
Charles F. Ferguson, " 
Richard McKay, Corporal 
Luther M. Bent, " 
Frank Siujjer, " 

Oliver E. Simpson, " 
Benson, William R. 
Crowell, Jeremiah . 
Gardner, Warren H. 
l^earned, James 

Mears, Daniel 
Pinkham, Wilson . 
Rollins, Frank P. 
Stone, Wilson 
Wilder, Samuel 



Deserted. 
Henry Penmore, Sergeant 
Ahern, Timothy 
Ahrend, Herman 
Burke, Michael H. . 
Bowditch, Thomas . 
Bradley, William W. 
Carroll, Charles 
Doyle, John N. 
Fessenden, George O. 
Foster, George H. . 
Fleming, William . 

Geisler, Lawrence F. 
Hopkins, John 
Hobill, William H. . 



Meniarks. 



Disability, Nov. 


18 


1862. 


July 


20, 


18(il. 


Feb. 


«, 


18G2. 


Sept 


^» 


18(51. 


Sept 


2, 


1862. 


" Oct. 


29, 


" 


" Sept 


^. 


1861. 


" Dec. 27, 


1862. 


Oct. 


8, 


'« 


. ' Sept 
" July 


27 


a 


20 


1861. 


Sept 


2, 


'4 


Mar. 


IG, 





On account of wounds, Sept. 24, 1862. 
Disability, March 20, 1863. 

To iohat Organization. 
Sergeant-lMajor, April 1, 1803. 
Re-en; trans, to 11th Mass., May 21, '(H. 
Medical Cadets, Aug. 31, 1861. 
Re-en; trans, to 11th Mass., May 21, '64. 
Veteran Reserve Corps, Feb. 15, 18'H. 
" " " Nov. 11, 1803. 

nth Mass., May 21, 1864. 
Commissary-Se'rgeant, April 1, 1863. 

Causes of Death. 
Killed at Bull Run, Va., Aug. 29, 1862. 
Died of wounds ; date unknown. 

" " Sept. 19, 1802. 

Died dis. at Poplar Hill, Va., June 10, '62. 
Died of wounds, Oct. 15, l.S()2. 
" " Oct. 10, 1802. 

Kil'datBlackb'n's Ford,Va., July 18, '62. 
, " Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1802. 

" Glendale, Va., June 30, 1862. 
Died of wounds, Julv 5, 18t)2. 

" dis. at Fort Schuyler, N. Y., Dec. 
10, 1862. 
Died in Richmond, Va.; date unknown. 
'« Boston, Mass.; " " 

" of wounds, Aug. 10, 1803. 
" in hospital, New York ; date unk'n. 
KiI'datChancellorsville,Va.,May 2, '63. 

Date of Desertion. 
BuURun, Va., July21, 1801. 
Georgetown, D.C., July 22, 1861. 
Alexandria, Va., Oct. 21, 1802. 
Budd's Ferry, Md., Nov. 13, 1861. 
Falmouth, Va., Jan. 19, 1803. 
Fair Oaks, Va., June 29, 1862. 

Annap'lis, Md., while par'd pris., no date. 
Fresh Pond, JIass., June 12, 1801. 
Georgetown, D. C, June 30, 18(51. 
Wounded at GIendale,Va., June 30, 1802; 

not since heard from. 
Fair Oaks, Va., June 29, 1862. 
Harrison's Landing, Va.,Aug., 13. 1802. 
Warrington Junction, Va., Aug. 24, '62. 



626 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 



Names. 


< 

22 


Jtetnai'Tcs. 


Kennedy, Cornelius E. 


Washington, D.C. ; date unknown. 




Marriner, Ilodnoy S. 


26 


Georgetown, D.C, July 22, 1861. 




Marshall, Geor^'-e F. 


31 




Mason, Joseph H. . 


30 


u n (t a 




Martins, John 


43 


Harrison's Landing, Ya., July, 1862. 




Jlason, John T. . . . 


39 


Sick at Fairfax Station, Va , Nov. 
1862; not since heard from. 


15, 


Norris, George G. S. 


27 


Harrison's Landing, Va., July, 1862. 




Rldell, Thomas 


■2b 


Budd's Ferry, Md., Nov. 13, 1861. 




Robbins, George R. . . 


20 


In face of tlie enemy, Dec. 14, 1862. 




Ready, William 


28 


New York, Aug. 7, 1863. 




Rogers, Alexander . 
Smith, Thomas L. . 


21 


" Sept. 21, 1863. 




40 


Fort Albany, Va., Aug. 6, 1861. 




ypear, Benjamin A. 


24 


P'airfax Seminary, Va., Oct., 1862. 




Willi.im^on, Charles A. 


22 


Fresh Pond. Mass., June, 1861. 




Woods, James 


32 


Georgetown, D.C, July 22, 1861. 




Wright, Stephen 




Fairfax Seminary, Va., Nov. 1, 1862. 




Walker, Benjamin J. 


32 


Fair Oaks, Va., June 29, 1862. 




Washburn, Henry G. 


26 


Fairfax Station, Va., Nov. Is62. 




Company JK. 








James T. Higgins, 1st Sergeant . 


3() 


Must, out. May 25, '64, Ist Sgt. Mar. 1, 


'63. 


(ieorge D. Robinson, Sergeant . 


21 


" " Serg't, Nov. 1, 


'62. 


Daniel Kelly, 


20 


<< << " " " 


" 


Benjamin F. Chase, " 


22 


" " " Feb. 1, 


'63. 


Harrison Whittemore " 


24 


" " " " Mar. 1, 


'63. 


Peter Fitzgerald, Corporal 


34 


" Corp., Nov. 1, 


'62. 


Charles M. Raymond, " 


22 


(( (( (( >< (1 


'< 


William Evans, " 


20 


<( (( (( 




Thomas Brown, " 


26 


(i i< (< 




Peter Wolfe, 


20 


(( u u 




George Good, " 


20 


Away wou'd when reg't was raust'd out. 


Charles H. Chapman, Musician . 


14 


Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 




James M. Huggins, Wagoner . 


35 




Bacon, John 0. . . . 


35 


I( (< U (< 




Bailey, Oscar .... 


28 


a (1 u u 




Beal, William H. . . . 


20 


Aw«av wou'd when regt was must'd out. 


Bird, Louis .... 


21 


Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 




Chudbourne, Cyrus K. 


18 


" " " " 




Chubbuck, Hiram H. 


22 


(< (( <( (< 




Connors, Michael 


16 


<( (< « « 




Coullahan, John 


16 


ic l( << <( 




Cowen,John .... 


22 


u a ti 11 




Desmond, Patrick W. 


19 


Missing since May 6, 1864. 




Drew, Albert .... 


31 


Mustered out, j\Lay 25, 18()4. 




Fuller, George E. . 


21 


Attached to Bramhall's Batt'y, Sept., 


'62, 


(ioode, Robert 


21 


Mustered out, May 25, 1864. 




(rreer, Charles K. . 


24 


U « (( (1 




Hathaway, Cliarles W. . 


23 


<( (( <( u 




Ha/Jewood, George H. 


40 


<( l( (( (( 




Hi'rman, Conrad, Jr. 


24 


<( (1 II (( 




Hooper, James G. . 


18 


(( U (( <l 




Hudson, William L, 


22 


« (( i( (( 




Hollis, William L. . 


24 


<( 11 (1 << 




Ivelley, Edward 


19 


(C i( l( (( 




Kenney, Michael 


28 


a II (( (( 




Keudrick, Gorhara S. 


28 


In hos. wou'd when regt was must'd out. 


Eane, John .... 


21 


Mustered out. May 25, 1864. 




Learned, Charles S. 


19 


H K i: i( 




Leonard, Joseph M. 
Maple, Frederick W. 


25 


Away wou'd when regt was must'd out. 


23 


Mustered out, Mav 25, \^M. 




M -I ntire, Charles W. 


2S 


II 11 'ii II 




Mclntire, David P. . . J 


28 


<( <i <i it 





ENLISTED MEN — COMPANY K. 



b'll 



Names, 



Mclntire, Horace 
Miller, George H. 
Moore, Garrick F. 
Murray, Thomas 
McGuire, Patrick 
Neas, Tliomas 
Parkinson, Thomas 
Pike, Edward A. 
Pet kins, Charles C. 
Kaadall, Albert A. 
Kuth, Matthew N. 
Simpson, Daniel W 
Snow, Alva . 
Tliayer, Richard L.. 



Discharged. 
Frartk Thomas, Sergeant . 
John H. Holden, " 
Charles E. Wilkins, " 
Nathaniel Averill, " 
Adoniram J. Barteaux, Sergo 
John F. Baxter, Corporal 
Henry Crocker, Musician 
Arnold, John 
Bender, Frederick . 
Cavanag-h, Philip 
Curtis, George 
Copelaud, David B, 
Downes, Frank T. . 
Fay, John B. . 
Finerty, James 
Frazier, James 
Hutchius, Frank 
Hamilton, Joseph A. 
Hess, Henry . 
Hauser, James G. . 
Kettler, William J. 
Mason, Thomas T. . 
Matthews, Thomas 11. 
McMahan, James 
MeCuen, James 
McNulty, Thomas . 
McGuinness, Francis 
McGouigle, James . 
McCausland, Charles B, 
Myers, Peter . . 

Patterson, John 
Partridge, Frank 
Payson, Lorenzo A. 
Powers, John J. 
Richardson, Orange S. 
Rosemeyer, Conrad 
Spinney, Zenas 
Sidrick, Marcus 
Taneyhan, Thomas . 
Tidd, Squires S. 
Wadsworth, Benjamin 
Westacott, Robert J. 
Wentworth, William H 
Wheeler, George 
Wood, Matthew 
Mahony, Thomas T. 
Hendricks, Adrien . 
Gaibel, Joseph 



Remarks, 



Mustered out. May 25, 1864. 



Away wou'd when regt was must'd out. 
Mustered out. May 25, 1864. 





52 


. 24! 


• 271 


ant, 21 


•l20 


. 41| 


.231 


• I^^I 


. '28' 


. '24i 


• 122! 


• '241 


• M 


. ,211 


.42; 


.■20. 


. 26! 


. :32. 


. 38^ 


. 39 


.113* 


. 21 


. 19 


. 21 


. 2:j 


.|24 


. !21 


. '21 


, 


26 


. 


21 


• 


19 




23 


. 


29 


. 


22 


. 


26 


. 25 


. 22 


• 130 


. 25 


• ;H 


. 21 


. 18 


, 22 


.119 


.J34 


. 


29 



Causes of JDisckarge . 
Second Lieut., May 13, 1862. 
Disability, Dec. 28, 1862. 

" Oct. 3, 1863. 

Order War Department, Feb. 11, 1863. 
Disability, records lost. 



Aug. 31, 1861, order Gen. McClellan. 
Nov. 13, 1861. 

Aug. 31, 1861, order Gen. McClellan. 
Disability, Oct. 17, 1862. 

" Oct. 13, 1862. 

" Aug. 31, 1861, ord. McClellan. 

(( 1< (I (( u 

Disability, records lost. 

Wounds, 1862. 

Dis'ty, Aug. 31, 1861. ord. Gen. McClellan. 

" July 24, 1862. 

" Oct., 1862. 

■ "■ 1863. 

" Feb. 25, 1863. 

Wounds, Oct., 1862. 
Disabilitv, Oct. 22, 1861. 

" ■ July 1, 1861. 

'■' Aug. 31, '61, ord. McClellan. 

Wounds, Oct. 11, 1862. 
" May .4, 1863. 
Disability, records lost. 
Wounds, 1862. 

" 1862. 

" 1862. 
Disability, records lost. 
Wounds, Dec. 28, 1863. 
" Doc. 28, 1863. 

Disability, Jan., 1862. 

" records lost. 

" Nov. 25, 1862. 

Promoted Lieut., Col'd Troops, 186.3. 
Disability, records lost. 

" July 1, 1861. 

" Jan. 5, 1863. 

" Aug. 31, ord. Gen. McClellan. 

Disability, March 13, 1863. 

(( " 10, " 

u 22, " 



52^ 



THE FIRST MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. 



Names. 


< 
26 


Metnarhs. 


Sheriff, Langdon 


Disability, Feb. '9,1863. 


Madden, Timothy . 


31 


9 <t 


Thompson, George W. 


25 


14, «' 


Dow, Simon D. . . . 


37 


U U 9 ,i 


Campbell, William . 


21 


9, " 


Wilkins.John 


20 


u u 9^ a 


Transferred. 




To what Organization. 


Hoeneman, William 


_ 


nth Ma-iS. Reg. 


McBarron, William . 


23 


Veteran Reserve Corps, Sept. 5, 1863. 


Mason, Allen P. . 


— 


11th Mass. Reg. 


Wrisley, Mollis S., Corporal 


32 


Veteran Reserve Corps, Sept. 5, 1863. 


Young, Charles A. . 


30 


" " " date unknown. 


Died. 




Causes of Death. 


Eltraher, Joseph 


24 


Died Sept. 19, 1861. 


Richardson, George G., Corporal 


29 


Killed in action, June 25, 1862. 


Moran, Thomas L. . 


20 


" 


' " " 


Stillings, George H. 
Bovard, Frank 


21 




I (( 11 


24 


" 


I u . u 


Lang, William 


19 


a 


' " " 


Ivers, James K. . 


41 


" 


i (( u 


Jloss, John P. . . . 


19 


" 


' June 30, " 


Jackson, Wesley 


21 


" 


( u n ■ 


Dolan, John .... 


20 


" 


' " " 


Hall, William B. . . . 


29 


" 


( (( (( 


Clark, William 


28 


" 


I a u 


Nelling, John W. . 


25 


K H 11 4t 


McNaliy, Richard . 


34 


Died August 29, 1862. 


Tinsley, Thomas 


44 


" May 13, 1863. 


Washburn, Henry S. 


37 


" Julv 2, " 


Everett, George 


38 


" Juiy 12, " 


Carson, Robert M. . 


42 


" Dec. 5, " 


Barstow, John T, . 


20 


" Jan. 2, " 


Deserted. 




Date of Desertion. 


Clark, John Y. J,, Sergeant 


22 


Sept. 30, 1862. 


Liddell, Thomas, Corporal 


23 


Oct. 16, " 


Rogers, Bernard 


24 
23 


Aug. 24, " from Alexandria. 


Hallett, Abel L. . 


Dec. 13, ''^ 


Habblitz, Jacob 


21 




Moore, Orrin JV. . 


24 


Oct. 10, " from Alexandria. 


Boag, William R. . 


26 


Aug. 21, " " " 


Antlies, Adolph 


20 


Nov. 13, 1861, from Camp Hooker. 


Barrie, Thomas 


22 


March 27, " " " Cameron. , 


Boyle, Arthur . 


23 


May 27, " " " 


Bergman, August . 


25 


June 25, " " Banks. 


Cohn, Julius . . . . 


20 


July 30, 1861, " Arlington. Va. 


Spellman, John 


19 


Sept. 21, 1861, " Bladensburg, Md. 


Spach, John H, . . . 


19 


Nov. 21, " 


" Budd's Ferry. 



3hV-^ 



